tarry

¹

[tar-ee]

verb (used without object)

tarried, tarrying 

1. to remain or stay, as in a place; sojourn.

   He tarried in Baltimore on his way to Washington.

   Synonyms: abide, stop, lodge, rest
   Antonyms: leave

2. to delay or be tardy in acting, starting, coming, etc.; linger or loiter.

3. to wait.

verb (used with object)

tarried, tarrying 

1. Archaic.,  to wait for.

noun

plural

tarries 

1. a stay; sojourn.

tarry

²

[tahr-ee]

adjective

tarrier, tarriest 

1. of or like tar; smeared with tar.

tarry

/ ˈtærɪ /

verb

1. (intr) to delay in coming or going; linger

2. (intr) to remain temporarily or briefly

3. (intr) to wait or stay

4. archaic,  (tr) to await

noun

1. rare,  a stay

Other Word Forms

• tarrier noun
• untarried adjective
• untarrying adjective
• tarriness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarry¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English taryen “to delay,” tary “a delay”; origin unknown

Origin of tarry²

First recorded in 1545–55; tar ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tarry¹

C14 tarien, of uncertain origin

Synonym Study

See wait.

Example Sentences

This time, we deliberately tarried for the scores of curious locals and drivers who wanted to know about our bike, our route, our motivation and “Are you still talking?”

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I see the final visitors depart, many tarrying until the last second.

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But we could not tarry long there out in the open.

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The ticking watch urged him not to tarry.

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His stiff blue shorts were striped with tarry blackness.

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