Pronunciation: /ˈtɛri/

Definitions of tarry

verb to delay or be slow in acting or moving

Example Sentences

A1 I tarry at the bus stop every morning.

A2 She tarrys in front of the mirror for hours before going out.

B1 The hikers decided to tarry at the waterfall and enjoy the view.

B2 The detective warned the suspect not to tarry with the evidence.

C1 The artist would often tarry in his studio late into the night, working on his masterpiece.

C2 The diplomat could not afford to tarry any longer in making a decision that could affect international relations.

adjective characterized by delay or slowness

Example Sentences

A1 The tarry substance stuck to his shoes as he walked through the construction site.

A2 The tarry smell of the asphalt filled the air on the hot summer day.

B1 The tarry texture of the road made it difficult to drive smoothly.

B2 The tarry residue left behind by the factory caused environmental concerns.

C1 The tarry consistency of the roofing material required special equipment for installation.

C2 The tarry substance was carefully analyzed by scientists to determine its composition.

adverb in a delayed or slow manner

Example Sentences

A1 I tarry at the bus stop every morning.

A2 She tarrys in the park to feed the ducks.

B1 The tourists decided to tarry a bit longer in the quaint village.

B2 He tarrys at the cafe, sipping his coffee and people-watching.

C1 The artist would tarry in front of the canvas, contemplating each brushstroke.

C2 Despite the urgency of the situation, she chose to tarry and carefully consider her next move.

Examples of tarry in a Sentence

formal The workers were warned not to tarry on their breaks and to return to work promptly.

informal Don't tarry too long or we'll miss the movie.

slang Let's not tarry around here, we need to get going.

figurative She didn't want to tarry in the past, but instead focused on moving forward with her life.

Grammatical Forms of tarry

past tense

tarried

plural

tarries

comparative

more tarry

superlative

most tarry

present tense

tarries

future tense

will tarry

perfect tense

have tarried

continuous tense

is tarrying

singular

tarries

positive degree

tarry

infinitive

tarry

gerund

tarrying

participle

tarried

Origin and Evolution of tarry

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Middle English
Story behind the word: The word 'tarry' originated from the Middle English word 'tarrien' which came from the Old French word 'tarrer' meaning to delay or linger.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'tarry' has evolved to also mean to stay in a place longer than necessary or to procrastinate. It has retained its original meaning of delaying or lingering, but has also taken on additional connotations related to staying put or hesitating.