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definitions

tarry

1
[tar-ee]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tarry ON THESAURUS.COM

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tarry ON THESAURUS.COM
1. rest, lodge, stop, abide. 3. See wait.

Antonyms for tarry

1. leave.

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

Related Words for tarry

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 tarry

Contemporary Examples of tarry

Historical Examples of tarry

  • 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

(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
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