Tardy Meaning
/ˈtɑːdi/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjLate; overdue or delayed.
adjMoving with a slow pace or motion; not swift.
Sentence Examples
They got the sack for being careless and tardy.
His teacher sent him to the principal's office for being tardy too many times.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student was ____ for the meeting and missed the announcements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was given a small warning because he had been ____ for his morning classes on several different occasions this month today.
Word Origin & History
From an earlier tardive, from French tardif, from Late Latin tardīvus, from Latin tardus (“slow”, “sluggish”), of obscure origin.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"When everything is ended, then you come. / These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life, / One time or other break some gallows’ back."
— c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii]:
"Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are such, long before the tardy consent of the public."
— 1795, Isaac D’Israeli, chapter 9, in An Essay on the Manners and Genius of the Literary Character, London: T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies, page 122:
"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."
— 1914, Saki, “The Stake”, in Beasts and Super-Beasts, London: John Lane, pages 202–203:
"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."
— 1963, James Baldwin, “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind”, in The Fire Next Time, New York: Dial, page 87:
"[…] fashions in proud Italy, / Whose manners still our tardy apish nation / Limps after in base imitation."
— 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student was ____ for the meeting and missed the announcements.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He was given a small warning because he had been ____ for his morning classes on several different occasions this month today.