tarry
tarry Lexical Profile
tarry Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To stay longer than intended; to delay leaving a place.
"We must not tarry in the valley if we hope to reach the mountain pass before nightfall."
To wait or remain temporarily in a place or state (often archaic or literary).
"The messengers were instructed to tarry at the city gates until the council reached a verdict."
• adjective
Of, resembling, or covered with tar.
"The fishermen worked along the dock with tarry ropes that smelled strongly of pine pitch."
• noun
A temporary stay, sojourn, or delay.
"After a brief tarry at the country inn, the travelers resumed their journey northward."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Tarry' consists of two distinct homographs with different pronunciations: the literary verb meaning 'to linger' rhymes with 'marry' (/ˈtæri/), whereas the adjective meaning 'covered with tar' rhymes with 'starry' (/ˈtɑːri/).
• Rhymes for tarry
Word Origin & Etymology
The verb 'tarry' comes from Middle English 'tarien' (to delay, vex, or hinder), merging Old English 'tergan' (to irritate or provoke) with Old French 'targier' (to delay), ultimately from Vulgar Latin 'tardicare' and Latin 'tardus' (slow).