tarry

[ 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.

Nearby words

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

Origin of tarry

1275–1325; Middle English taryen to delay, tary a delay < ?

SYNONYMS FOR tarry

1 rest, lodge, stop, abide.

3 See wait.

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ANTONYMS FOR tarry

1 leave.

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Related forms

tar·ri·er, nounun·tar·ried, adjectiveun·tar·ry·ing, adjective

Definition for tarry (2 of 2)

tarry

[ tahr-ee ]

/ ˈtɑr i /

adjective, tar·ri·er, tar·ri·est.

of or like tar; smeared with tar.

Origin of tarry

First recorded in 1545–55; tar¹ + -y¹

Related forms

tar·ri·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tarry

They were all made by monks, and from memory; for the monks did not tarry.
Twain's Conversations with Satan|Mark Twain|April 26, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Tarry here until the morning, and I will then give thee some further discourse on the matter.
Traditions of Lancashire, Volume 1 (of 2)|John Roby
If we might give the bishop the slip, and not tarry for his prayers, you'd be spared trusting the Dutchman.
Captain Ravenshaw|Robert Neilson Stephens
He had suffered grievously for many days, and it was plain to all his friends that he had not long to tarry with us.
The Argosy|Various

Since there is no chance of capturing Charles Stuart, I shall not tarry longer here.
Boscobel: or, the royal oak|William Harrison Ainsworth
Alice Lewthwaite counts it mighty late to tarry unwed, but I do misdoubt of mine own mind if Helen ever shall wed with any.
Joyce Morrell's Harvest|Emily Sarah Holt

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 Forms

tarrier, 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