Definition

Noun: 1. The act of tarrying; a delay or lingering: The state or action of staying in a place longer than necessary or expected; a period of waiting or dawdling.

Usage

The word "tarriance" is a formal and somewhat archaic noun. It is used to describe the act of delaying or lingering, often implying a leisurely or perhaps an unwarranted pause. It is not commonly used in everyday modern English but may appear in literary or historical contexts.

Examples

• After a brief tarriance at the inn, the travelers continued their journey.
• His constant tarriance made them miss the start of the performance.
• The letter requested an answer without tarriance.

Advanced Usage

• "To make tarriance": This is an older, more formal construction meaning to cause or engage in a delay.
  • Example: "Make no tarriance; our business is urgent."

Variants and Related Words

• Tarry (verb): To delay or be slow in acting; to linger.
  • Example: "Do not tarry, for the night is coming."
• Tarrying (noun, gerund): The present participle of "tarry," often used interchangeably with "tarriance" though slightly more common.
  • Example: "Your tarrying has cost us valuable time."

Synonyms

• Delay
• Lingering
• Dawdling
• Sojourn (specifically a temporary stay)
• Procrastination (specifically the act of delaying action)

Antonyms

• Haste
• Promptness
• Dispatch
• Expedition

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Without further tarriance": An archaic phrase meaning without any more delay.
  • Example (literary): "And so, without further tarriance, he set forth."

Noun

1. the act of tarrying