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definitions

tarry

1
[tar-ee]
||

verb (used without object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.

to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.
to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.
to wait.

verb (used with object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.

Archaic. to wait for.

noun, plural tar·ries.

a stay; sojourn.

Origin of tarry

1
1275–1325; Middle English taryen to delay, tary a delay < ?
Related formstar·ri·er, nounun·tar·ried, adjectiveun·tar·ry·ing, adjective

Synonyms for tarry

1. rest, lodge, stop, abide. 3. See wait.

Antonyms for tarry

1. leave.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for tarried

temporize, rest, pause, visit, abide, procrastinate, tail, lodge, dwell, filibuster, tool, lag, stop, stay, trail, drag, poke, dally, wait, linger

Examples from the Web for tarried

Historical Examples of tarried

  • Oh, why had I tarried so long, losing so many precious minutes!

    Green Mansions

    W. H. Hudson

  • He was not wordy, and he tarried but a moment, yet he explained his paralysis.

    The Cavalier

    George Washington Cable

  • Having reached the gate, they tarried there for a few minutes.

    His Masterpiece

    Emile Zola

  • But Richard was away—he had been absent since yesterday, and none could tell her where he tarried.

    Mistress Wilding

    Rafael Sabatini

  • It was her turn to grow angry now, and well it was for him that he had not tarried.

    The Tavern Knight

    Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for tarried

tarry

verb -ries, -rying or -ried

(intr) to delay in coming or going; linger
(intr) to remain temporarily or briefly
(intr) to wait or stay
(tr) archaic, or poetic to await

noun plural -ries

rare a stay
Derived Formstarrier, noun

Word Origin for tarry

C14 tarien, of uncertain origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for tarried

tarry

v.

early 14c., "to delay, retard," of uncertain origin. Some suggest a connection to Latin tardare "to delay," or Old English tergan "to vex, irritate." Intransitive meaning "to linger" is attested from late 14c.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper