arch. Also 5 tary-, 5–7 tari-, 6–7 tarry-; 5–6 -ans, 5–7 -aunce, 6–7 -ence. [f. TARRY v. + -ANCE.]
1. The action of tarrying; delay, procrastination.
1460. Paston Lett., I. 527. Besechyng your maistership not to be dysplesed with my long taryans.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 295 b. To make no ferther delaie ne taryaunce.
1563. Golding, Cæsar, v. (1565), 137. Fabius … making no long tarience in hys iorney, met hym with hys Legion.
1576. Fulwel, Ars Adulandi, vii. (1579), G iij. Better is a litle tariance then a raw dinner.
1591. Shaks., Two Gent., II. vii. 90. I am impatient of my tarriance.
1694. S. Sewall, Diary, 6 April (1878), I. 390. Sawing and fitting this board made some inconvenient Tarriance.
1808. Southey, Chron. Cid, 173. The tarriance that had been made.
1898. T. Hardy, Wessex Poems, 90. Worn with tartiance I care for life no more.
2. Temporary residence or continuance in a place; sojourn, abiding.
1530. Palsgr., 279/2. Taryaunce, abyding, demourance.
1681. R. Knox, Hist. Ceylon, II. vi. 56. Making these Tents stronger or slighter, according to the time of their tarriance.
1721. Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. vi. 66. After a year or two’s tarriance in London.
1885. T. Hodgkin, Italy Inv., III. IV. viii. 307. It may have been during this tarriance at Rome that Theodoric commenced … draining the Pontine Marshes.
† 3. Abiding in expectation; awaiting, waiting.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., II. 105. To confirme them in loking for him, that they should not waxe faint with long tarriance.
1599. ? Shaks., Pass. Pilgr., vi. Cytherea … A longing tariance for Adonis made.
1646. Trapp, Comm. John xx. 6. The good ground brings forth fruit with patience or tarriance.
† 4. The causing of delay; hindrance. Obs.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, V. v. Neither is there any let or tarriance, but that I may marry her out of hand.
