_tarry_

_tarry_

Verb.

Pronunciation and accent: tærɪ.

Etymology: of uncertain origin.

Third-person singular simple present: she/he tarries.

Preterite tense, preterite participle: tarried.

Present participle: tarrying.

It is dated from the beginning of 1300.

Intransitively: 1. (The subject being an unanimated being) to be tardy in going, advancing, etc.

Synonyms: to retard, delay.

Antonyms: to hasten, hurry, accelerate, speed, flit.

[…] the waters cannot tarry long in their passage, but must precipitately run towards the plane, level grounds, […]

Charles Lucas… An essay on waters

2. (The subject being an animated being) to be tardy or dilatory in beginning or doing anything; this is, to wait before doing something (specified either by a infinitive construction or a gerundival one, the preposition in preceding the gerund).

Synonyms: to delay, linger, loiter.

Antonyms: to hasten, hurry, accelerate, speed.

Translation: tardar, in Spanish; s’attarder, in French; tardare, in Italian.

She was […] on the eve of taking her departure, and only tarrying to consider in what direction next to bend her steps.

George Reynolds… The parricide

'And why hast thou hitherto concealed from me this secret? Why hast thou waited till the eve of the Athenian's condemnation before thou hast ventured to tell me that Arbaces is a murderer? And having tarried so long, why revealest thou now that knowledge?'

Edward Bulwer-Lytton… The Last Days of Pompeii

Having made one hundred and fifty-nine prisoners, among whom were three officers, Lee commenced his retreat, without tarrying to destroy either barracks or artillery.

Washington Irving… The Student's Life of Washington

3. (The subject being an animated being) to be tardy or dilatory in going or coming, by staying in a place beyond the usual o expected time.

Synonyms: to delay, linger, loiter.

Antonyms: to hasten, hurry, accelerate, speed, hustle, expedite, precipitate

Translation: tardar, in Spanish; s’attarder, in French; ritardare, in Italian.

[…] they entered, and found her awaiting their coming with deep anxiety. […] “Maude, Maude, why have you tarried thus?” she cried, as her maid entered.

Pierce Egan… Robin Hood and little John

The day had been misty throughout, and while we thus tarried for a space, fine snow commenced to fall thickly, and obscure our path; increasing heavily as we continued on our way.

The New Monthly Magazine

The next morning, contrary to our discipline, we tarried rather longer in dormitory, to bathe the stiffness from our wearied limbs in luxurious repose; but work was to be accomplished, and before noon we had crossed the Ickleton way (the ancient road), and commenced the ascent of the precipitous chalk hill…

The wanderings of a pen and pencil, by F. P. Palmer

"The lazy hounds, why tarry they?"

Walter Scott… The Betrothed

She hath cried herself ill, and must tarry in bed where is naught to divert her grief. Is it not better to keep afoot and be of use to others, at least?

Jane Austin… Standish of Standish

4. (The subject being an animated being) to be stationary in expectation of a person, or until something is done or occurs. Hence, to be in expectation, even if not stationarily.

Synonyms: to wait, bide.

"Tarry a while, for I have something to tell thee which must not be lightly spoken in the presence of others since it concerns me and thee only."

Doris Hayman… The Children's Longfellow

-) With the preposition for + the object of the wait:

The hostess […] tarried for me at the top of her little staircase.

Marie Aulnoy… The lady’s travels into Spain

I found on the other side of this river a banker […], to whom I was recommended: he tarried for me, with two of his relations: they were clothed after the French manner.

Catherine Aulnoy… The lady’s travels into Spain 1808

[…] the elect knew that these delays betokened the presence of an artistic conscience in the kitchen, and that the food was worth tarrying for.

Harry Wilson… The Spenders

He did not tarry for an answer, but continued his way with rapid strides through various courts and alleys, till he came at length into a narrow, dark, and damp gallery, that seemed cut from the living rock.

Edward Bulwer Lytton… Leila 1838

-) With the preposition till or until + the occurrence expected:

“Stay! Job […],” cried the housekeeper; and he tarried till she unbarred the gate.

Lloyd’s penny weekly miscellany

[…] he heard a voice in the corridor calling on his name; and presently there was a knock at the door without. “Are you there, signor?” said the clear tones of Maestro Paolo. Glyndon hastily reclosed and replaced the vial, and bidding Paolo await him in his own apartment, tarried till he heard the intruder’s steps depart.

Edward Bulwer Lytton… Zanoni

He folded his long arms and ranged himself patiently alongside Billy. And Billy, regarding him uneasily, felt convinced that though he tarried until the sun returned Mr. Dill would stand right there and wait.

B. M. Bower… The Long Shadow 1908

-) With the preposition on or upon + the object of the wait. (Scottish construction).

[…] he tarried on me for other hose and cloaths, and his riding cloak and sword, which I gave him.

Hugh Campbell… The love letters of Mary

5. (The subject: an animated being) to stay or continue, in quality of visitor or guest, in a place that is not one’s own; this is, to remain in other place than one’s own house, apartment, habitat, city, etc.

Synonyms: to sojourn, abide.

Antonyms: to leave, go, depart, be off, move on.

Our destination was for the city of Euphremia, in Calabria, where we had some business to transact, and where we designed to tarry for some time.

Oliver Goldsmith… A history of the earth 1774

[…] we found a solitary house where ham and coffee were procurable; and there we tarried to wait the advent of the boat, which would come in sight from the green before the door, a long way off.

Charles Dickens… American Notes… 1842

In less than twenty-four hours almost all the passengers had got on board some other boats, but those who had been invited by Mr Courtenay tarried a few days with us, for we were on the eve of a great fishing party on the lake…

Frederick Marryat… Travels and Adventures… 1843

[…] when we came to Spezzia, we found that the Magra, an unbridged river on the high-road to Pisa, was too high to be safely crossed in the Ferry Boat, and were fain to wait until the afternoon of next day, when it had, in some degree, subsided.  Spezzia, however, is a good place to tarry at; by reason, firstly, of its beautiful bay; secondly, of its ghostly Inn; thirdly, of the head-dress of the women…

Charles Dickens… Pictures from Italy 1846

Their courtly politeness to each other at the hotels where they tarry is the theme of general admiration.

Charles Dickens… Bleak house 1853

 […] it was to them merely a mart where they brought their fruits to sell, and where they tarried for a few hours at most, leaving the streets still silent, the houses still asleep.

Oscar Wilde… Lord Arthur Savile’s Crime 1891

It was nearly noon when he reached again the sheep camp, and the Swede hospitably urged him to stay and eat with him; but Happy Jack would not tarry, for he was anxious to reach the camp of the Flying U.

Bertha Bower… The Happy Family 1910

It did not take a long time to exhaust the interest of Bassano, but we were sorry to leave the place because of the excellence of the inn at which we tarried.

William Howells… Italian Journeys 1867

-) Sometimes, almost abusively, it is used for “to be”:

A brown-skinned young fellow with country manners and a range-fostered disposition to talk with any one who tarried within talking distance, was just unloading his tray load of provender on the opposite side of the table.

B. M Bower… Starr, of the Desert

Transitively: 1. (Obsolete): to cause to tarry or stay (an animated being); to delay, retard.

2. (Obsolete): to delay (an action, etc.), retard.

3. To be in expectation of; to wait for.

Synonyms: to await, expect.

I pressed him, when he called this morning, to tarry your coming; but, […] he is diffident, and not yet accustomed to mix freely with strangers.

Edward Lytton… Devereux

I long tarried my opportunity; it was one evening that coming rather unexpectedly to the cottage, I was informed by the single servant that Don Diego had gone to the neighbouring town, but that Isora was in the garden.

Edward Bulwer-Lytton… Devereux

English words derived from TARRY: tarriance, tarrier, tarry (noun), tarrying, tarryingly.