tarry
TA-ree
/ˈtæri/
To stay longer than intended; to delay leaving a place.
A very old-fashioned, poetic word for lingering or waiting.
The story behind the word. The word 'tarry' has a confusing history. In Middle English, 'tarien' meant to irritate or provoke. Over time, it shifted to mean 'to hinder' and then simply 'to delay' or 'to stay.'
Word relationships
- linger: Linger is modern and common; tarry is archaic and formal.
- wait: Wait is neutral; tarry implies staying longer than you should.
- hasten: To move or act with speed.
- hurry: To move or act with haste.
Commonly confused with
- tardy: Tardy is an adjective meaning late; tarry is a verb meaning to delay.
Word family
- tarrier (noun): One who delays or lingers.
Collocations
- tarry a while
- do not tarry
- tarry in the garden
Example sentences
- "Tarry a while, says the slow-worm; I have a story to tell." A classic poetic line.
- "The messenger was told not to tarry on the road, for the news was urgent." Historical fiction.
Memory hook
If you 'tarry', you are 'tardy'. Don't TARRY or you'll be TARDY.
When not to use
Avoid in modern business or casual speech unless you want to sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Fun facts
- 'Tarry' is also an adjective meaning 'like tar,' but the two words are completely unrelated in origin.
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