tarry

/'tɑ:ri/

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Explanation of the Word "Tarry"

Part of Speech:
- Verb: To tarry (to leave slowly and hesitantly)
- Adjective: Tarry (having characteristics of pitch or tar)

Basic Meaning:

When you tarry, it means you are taking your time to leave. You might be waiting or lingering somewhere instead of moving on quickly. For example, high school students often like to tarry in the central square, meaning they hang around and don’t rush to go anywhere.

Usage Instructions:

• As a verb: Use "tarry" when talking about someone who is delaying their departure or staying in a place longer than necessary.
• As an adjective: Use "tarry" when describing something that is sticky or thick, like tar.

Example Sentences:

• Verb: "The group of friends decided to tarry at the café after school instead of going home right away."
• Adjective: "The tarry substance on the road made it difficult for cars to drive smoothly."

Advanced Usage:

In literature or formal writing, you might encounter "tarry" used in a metaphorical sense, describing someone who hesitates to make a decision or commit to an action. For example, "He chose to tarry in his thoughts, unsure of the path he should take."

Word Variants:

• Tarrying (present participle): The act of lingering or delaying.
• Tarried (simple past): To have lingered or delayed.

Different Meanings:

• Literal: Referring to something that is sticky or resembles tar.
• Figurative: To hesitate or linger in a place or situation.

Synonyms:

• For the verb: linger, delay, loiter, dawdle
• For the adjective: sticky, viscous, thick

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically using "tarry," you might hear phrases with similar meanings, like "to hang around" or "to stick around," which convey the idea of staying longer than necessary.

Academic

Adjective

1. having the characteristics of pitch or tar

Verb

1. leave slowly and hesitantly
2. be about
   • The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square
   • Who is this man that is hanging around the department?

Synonyms

• pitchy
• resinous
• resiny
• linger