I. ˈtär-dē adjective
( tar·di·er ; -est )
Etymology: alteration of earlier tardif, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * tardivus, from Latin tardus
Date: 15th century
1. : moving slowly : sluggish
the tardy pace at which she was obliged to walk — Charles Dickens
2. : delayed beyond the expected or proper time : late
a tardy arrival
• tar·di·ness ˈtär-dē-nəs noun
II. noun
( plural tardies )
Date: 1960
: an instance of being tardy (as to a class)