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definitions

tarry

1
[ tar-ee ]
/ ˈtær i /
||
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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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

tarras, tarrasa, tarred, tarred with the same brush, tarriance, tarry, tarry cyst, tarrytown, tars-, tarsadenitis, tarsal

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

Definition for tarry (2 of 2)

tarry

2
[ tahr-ee ]
/ ˈtɑr i /

adjective, tar·ri·er, tar·ri·est.

of or like tar; smeared with tar.

Origin of tarry

2
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. 2019

Examples from the Web for tarry

British Dictionary definitions for tarry

tarry

/ (ˈtærɪ) /

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