different between neaten vs tidy

English

Etymology

neat +? -en

Verb

neaten (third-person singular simple present neatens, present participle neatening, simple past and past participle neatened)

1. (transitive) To make (someone or something) neat; to arrange (people or things) in an orderly, tidy way; to tidy.

   She made a frantic attempt to neaten her hair.

2. (intransitive) To engage in activity that arranges someone or something in an orderly, tidy way.

   Don't mind me if I neaten while you talk.

Translations

References

• The Oxford English Dictionary

Anagrams

• Etnean, nantee

English

Etymology

From Middle English tidy, tydy, tidi (“timely, seasonal, opportune”), equivalent to tide (“time”) +? -y. Cognate with Dutch tijdig (“timely”), Middle Low German t?dich (“timely”), German zeitig (“seasonal, timely”), Danish tidig (“timely”), Swedish tidig (“timely”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ta?di/
• Rhymes: -a?di

Adjective

tidy (comparative tidier, superlative tidiest)

1. Arranged neatly and in order.

2. Not messy; neat and controlled.
3. (colloquial) Satisfactory; comfortable.
4. (colloquial) Generous, considerable.

5. (obsolete) In good time; at the right time; timely; seasonable; opportune; favourable; fit; suitable.
   • 1573, Thomas Tusser, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry

     if weather be fair and tidy

6. (obsolete) Brave; smart; skillful; fine; good.
7. Appropriate or suitable as regards occasion, circumstances, arrangement, or order.

Synonyms

• (arranged neatly): neat, orderly, presentable, spick and span; see also Thesaurus:orderly or Thesaurus:clean
• (at the right time): opportune, seasonable; see also Thesaurus:timely
• (appropriate or suitable): apt, fit; see also Thesaurus:suitable

Antonyms

• (not messy): messy, untidy

Derived terms

• hair-tidy

Related terms

• tidily
• tidiness

Translations

Verb

tidy (third-person singular simple present tidies, present participle tidying, simple past and past participle tidied)

1. To make tidy; to neaten.

Translations

Noun

tidy (plural tidies)

1. A tabletop container for pens and stationery.

2. A cover, often of tatting, drawn work, or other ornamental work, for the back of a chair, the arms of a sofa, etc.
3. (dated) A child's pinafore.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Wright to this entry?)

4. The wren.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Drayton to this entry?)

Translations

Interjection

tidy

1. (Wales) Expression of agreement or positive acknowledgement, usually in reply to a question; great, fine.