different between saunter vs tarry

English

Etymology

Etymology unclear. Attested in the sense “to stroll” from the 1660s; noun sense “a stroll” attested 1828. Likely from earlier term meaning “to muse”, late 15th century, from Middle English santren, of unknown origin. Competing theories exist:

• From Anglo-Norman sauntrer (mid 14th century), from Middle French s'aventurer (“to take risks”); however this is considered unlikely by the OED. Compare Middle English aunter (“adventure”).
• Of Germanic origin, with proposed cognates including German schlendern, Danish slentre, Swedish släntra, and Icelandic slentr, all meaning “to stroll”.

Various fanciful folk etymologies have also been given.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?s?nt?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?s??nt?/
• (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA^(key): /?s?nt?/
• Rhymes: -??nt?(?)

Verb

saunter (third-person singular simple present saunters, present participle sauntering, simple past and past participle sauntered)

1. To stroll, or walk at a leisurely pace.

   Synonyms: amble, stroll, wander

   • 1858-1880, David Masson, The Life Of John Milton: 1649-1654

     One could lie under elm trees in a lawn, or saunter in meadows by the side of a stream.

Translations

Noun

saunter (plural saunters)

1. A leisurely walk or stroll.
2. A leisurely pace.
3. (obsolete) A place for sauntering or strolling.
   • 1728, Edward Young, The Love of Fame

     That wheel of fops, that saunter of the town.

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Transue, aunters, natuers, natures, sea turn, seruant, tea urns, tea-urns, unrates

English

Alternative forms

• tarrow (Scotland)

Etymology 1

From Middle English tarien, terien (“to vex, harass, cause to hesitate, delay”), from Old English tirian, tir?an, ter?an (“to worry, exasperate, pain, provoke, excite”), from Proto-Germanic *tergan?, *targijan? (“to pull, tease, irritate”), from Proto-Indo-European *dereg?- (“to pull, tug, irritate”). Cognate with Dutch tergen (“to provoke”), German zergen (“to vex, irritate, provoke”), Norwegian Bokmål terge (“to irritate, provoke”), Russian ??????? (djórgat?, “to pull, yank, jerk, pluck up”). Compare also Walloon tårdjî (“to be late, to be slow, to wait”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?tæ.?i/, enPR: t?r'?
• Rhymes: -æri

Verb

tarry (third-person singular simple present tarries, present participle tarrying, simple past and past participle tarried) (dated)

1. (intransitive) To delay; to be late or tardy in beginning or doing anything.

   Synonyms: forestall, put off; see also Thesaurus:procrastinate
2. (intransitive) To linger in expectation of something or until something is done or happens.

   Synonym: abide
3. (intransitive) To abide, stay or wait somewhere, especially if longer than planned.

   Synonyms: hang about, hang around, linger, loiter; see also Thesaurus:tarry
4. (intransitive) To stay somewhere temporarily.

   Synonyms: sojourn, stay, stay over, stop, stop over; see also Thesaurus:sojourn
5. (transitive) To wait for; to stay or stop for; to allow to linger.

   Synonyms: await, wait on; see also Thesaurus:wait for

Translations

Noun

tarry (plural tarries)

1. A sojourn.

   Synonyms: stay, stop, stop-over

Translations

Etymology 2

From Middle English terrie, equivalent to tar +? -y.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?t???i/, enPR: tär'?
• Rhymes: -??ri

Adjective

tarry (comparative tarrier, superlative tarriest)

1. Resembling tar.

   Synonym: pitchy

2. Covered with tar.

   Synonyms: bituminized, pitchy

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “tarry”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary, Springfield, Massachusetts, G.&C. Merriam Co., 1967