tarry

Meanings

Verb

  • To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.
  • To linger in expectation of something or until something is done or happens.
  • To abide, stay or wait somewhere, especially if longer than planned.
  • To stay somewhere temporarily.
  • To wait for; to stay or stop for; to allow to linger.

Noun

Adjective

  • Resembling tar.
  • Covered with tar.

Origin

  • From Middle English tarien, terien, from Old English tirian, tirġan, terġan, from Proto-Germanic *terganą, *targijaną, from Proto-Indo-European *deregʰ-. Cognate with Dutch tergen ("to provoke"), German zergen ("to vex, irritate, provoke"), Norwegian Bokmål terge ("to irritate, provoke"), Russian дёргать ("to pull, yank, jerk, pluck up"). Compare also Walloon tårdjî ("to be late, to be slow, to wait").
  • From Middle English terrie, equivalent to tar + -y.

Modern English dictionary

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