1520s, "slow," from Old French tardif "slow, late" (12c.), also the name of the snail character in the Roman de Renart, from Vulgar Latin *tardivus, from Latin tardus "slow, sluggish; late; dull, stupid," of unknown origin. Meaning "late" in English is from 1660s.
This word, not much used in English prose, is constantly employed in the U.S. and in Canada with reference to lateness in school-attendance. [Thornton, "American Glossary," 1912]
Related: Tardily; tardiness. Earlier form of the word in English was tardif, tardyve (late 15c.). Tardity "slowness of movement or action" is recorded in English from early 15c., from Old French tardete, from Latin tarditas.
中文解释
1. 谐音“遢地、拖地”----拖遢地。
实用例句
1. The agency was heavily criticised for its tardy response to the hurricane.
该机构因对飓风反应迟缓，受到严厉批评。
来自柯林斯例句
2. I was as tardy as ever for the afternoon appointments.
和以往一样，下午的约见我又迟到了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The law is often tardy in reacting to changing attitudes.
