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tarry1

[tar-ee]
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verb (used without object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn: He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.
  2. to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.
  3. to wait.
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verb (used with object), tar·ried, tar·ry·ing.
  1. Archaic. to wait for.
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noun, plural tar·ries.
  1. a stay; sojourn.
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Origin of tarry1

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

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

1. leave.

tarry2

[tahr-ee]
adjective, tar·ri·er, tar·ri·est.
  1. of or like tar; smeared with tar.
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Origin of tarry2

First recorded in 1545–55; tar1 + -y1
Related formstar·ri·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

temporizerestpausevisitabideprocrastinatetaillodgedwellfilibustertoollagstopstaytraildragpokedallywaitlinger

Examples from the Web for tarry

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Why should we tarry any longer to see everything moiled and set at nought?

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • Chip, knowing that his turn had come, and come to tarry, found nothing to say.

  • Can we not tarry here a little longer while you find the rest you need?

    The Last of the Mohicans

    James Fenimore Cooper

  • Do you think I could not be permitted to tarry one week longer?

    Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • But perchance the tide was favourable, and you could not tarry.

    Micah Clarke

    Arthur Conan Doyle

British Dictionary definitions for tarry

tarry

verb -ries, -rying or -ried
  1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger
  2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly
  3. (intr) to wait or stay
  4. (tr) archaic, or poetic to await
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noun plural -ries
  1. rare a stay
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Derived Formstarrier, noun

Word Origin

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 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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper