tarry
pronunciation
How to pronounce tarry in British English:
UK [ˈtæri]
How to pronounce tarry in American English:
US [ˈtæri]
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- Verb:
- be about
- leave slowly and hesitantly
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- Adjective:
- having the characteristics of pitch or tar
Word Origin
- tarry (v.)
- early 14c., "to delay, retard" (transitive), of uncertain origin. Some suggest a connection to Latin tardare "to delay," or Old English tergan, tirgan "to vex, irritate, exasperate, provoke," which yielded a Middle English verb identical in form to this one. Intransitive meaning "to linger" is attested from late 14c. Related: Tarried; tarrying; tarrysome.
- tarry (adj.)
- 1550s, from tar (n.1) + -y (2). Tarry-fingered "dishonest, thieving" is from 1825.
Example
- 1. Why does he tarry ?
- 2. Eg. why did he tarry so long on his way to school ?
- 3. The tourists will tarry at an inn .
- 4. Yet I cannot tarry longer .
- 5. Tarry awhile at this charming country inn .