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definitions

tarry

1
[tar-ee]
||
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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

  1. tarras,
  2. tarrasa,
  3. tarred,
  4. tarred with the same brush,
  5. tarriance,
  6. tarry cyst,
  7. tarrytown,
  8. tars-,
  9. tarsadenitis,
  10. tarsal

Origin of tarry

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

tarry

2
[tahr-ee]

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

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 tarry

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