tarry1
[tar-ee]
- 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.
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- Archaic. to wait for.
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- a stay; sojourn.
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Origin of tarry1
1275–1325; Middle English taryen to delay, tary a delay < ?
Synonyms
See more synonyms for tarry on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. leave.
tarry2
[tahr-ee]
- of or like tar; smeared with tar.
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Origin of tarry2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for tarry
Contemporary Examples
They were all made by monks, and from memory; for the monks did not tarry.
Historical Examples
Why should we tarry any longer to see everything moiled and set at nought?
The Armourer's PrenticesCharlotte M. Yonge
Chip, knowing that his turn had come, and come to tarry, found nothing to say.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
Can we not tarry here a little longer while you find the rest you need?
The Last of the MohicansJames 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 ClarkeArthur Conan Doyle
tarry
- (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
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- rare a stay
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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