tarry
/'tɑ:ri/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb:
- To delay or be slow in acting or moving; to linger: To remain in a place longer than necessary, often hesitantly.
- To stay temporarily; to sojourn: To abide or dwell for a time.
Adjective:
- Resembling or covered with tar; sticky: Having the thick, dark, viscous qualities of tar.
Examples of Usage
- Verb:
- Do not tarry on your way home; it's getting dark.
- She tarried at the bookstore, unable to decide which novel to buy.
- Adjective (less common):
- The tarry substance made the road repairs difficult.
- After the roof was sealed, a tarry smell lingered in the air.
Advanced Usage
- "To tarry over": To spend an excessive amount of time on an action.
- He tarried over his meal, enjoying every bite.
- Literary/Archaic Use: Often used in older texts or poetic contexts to mean "to wait for."
- "Tarry here for my return," the knight commanded.
Variants and Related Words
- Tarrier (n): (Archaic) One who tarries; a lingerer.
- Tarrying (n): The act of delaying or lingering.
- His constant tarrying made them late.
Synonyms
- Verb: Linger, loiter, dawdle, delay, procrastinate, sojourn.
- Adjective: Gummy, pitchy, resinous, sticky, viscous.
Antonyms
- Verb: Hurry, rush, depart, leave, expedite.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions
- Tarry behind: To remain after others have left.
- He tarried behind to ask the speaker a question.
Related Idioms
- To tarry too long: To stay so long that it causes a problem or missed opportunity.
- If you tarry too long, you'll miss the train.
Adjective
- having the characteristics of pitch or tar
Verb
- leave slowly and hesitantly
- be about
- The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
- Who is this man that is hanging around the department?