tardy
/ˈtɑɹdi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.69 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Moving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
adj
Ineffectual; slow-witted, slow to act, or dull.
Example Sentences
- "He yawned, then raised a tardy hand over his mouth."
- "When everything is ended, then you come. / These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life, / One time or other break some gallows’ back."
- "Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are such, long before the tardy consent of the public."
- "As a matter of fact, the luncheon fare, when it made its tardy appearance, was distinctly unworthy of the reputation which the justly-treasured cook had built up for herself."
- "And the Black Muslims, along with many people who are not Muslims, no longer wish for a recognition so grudging and (should it ever be achieved) so tardy."
- "[…] fashions in proud Italy, / Whose manners still our tardy apish nation / Limps after in base imitation."
Etymology
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈtɑɹdi/
- British English: /ˈtɑːdi/
Usage
- Obsolete
- American usage
- Transitive verb
- Intransitive verb