Definition of "tardy"

When everything is ended, then you come. / These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life, / One time or other break some gallows’ back.

c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene iii]

Men of genius anticipate their contemporaries, and know they are such, long before the tardy consent of the public.

1795, Isaac D’Israeli, chapter 9, in An Essay on the Manners and Genius of the Literary Character‎, London: T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies, page 122

As a matter of fact, the luncheon fare, when it made its tardy appearance, was distinctly unworthy of the reputation which the justly-treasured cook had built up for herself.

1914, Saki, “The Stake”, in Beasts and Super-Beasts‎, London: John Lane, pages 202–203

And the Black Muslims, along with many people who are not Muslims, no longer wish for a recognition so grudging and (should it ever be achieved) so tardy.

1963, James Baldwin, “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind”, in The Fire Next Time‎, New York: Dial, page 87

[…] fashions in proud Italy, / Whose manners still our tardy apish nation / Limps after in base imitation.

1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The life and death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act II, scene i]

Nor should their Age by Yeares be told: / Whose Souls, more swift then Motion, clime; / And check the tardy Flight of Time.

1638, George Sandys, “(please specify the part or chapter)”, in A Paraphrase upon the Divine Poems, London: […] Iohn Legatt

In various Views she tries her constant Theme; / Finds him, in Councils, and in Arms, the same: / When certain to o’ercome, inclin’d to save; / Tardy to Vengeance; and with Mercy brave.

1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “Carmen Seculare, For the Year 1700. To the King”, in Poems on Several Occasions, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], page 151

[…] a disease which medicine never cured, wealth never warded off, or poverty could boast exemption from; which sometimes moves in giant strides, and sometimes at a tardy sluggish pace, but, slow or quick, is ever sure and certain.

1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, “Chronicles the further Proceedings of the Nickleby Family, and the Sequel of the Adventure of the Gentleman in the Small-clothes”, in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839

These berries […] are a deadly and insidious poison, though very tardy in their action, often lying dormant in the blood for many days.

1926, Hope Mirrlees, chapter 19, in Lud-in-the-Mist, Millennium, published 2000

And the youngest of the familyIs moving with authorityBuilding castles by the seaHe dares the tardy tideTo wash them all aside.

1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull

Be not ta’en tardy by unwise delay.

c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act IV, scene i]

Yield, Scoundrel base (quoth she) or die; / Thy life is mine, and liberty. / But if thou think’st I took thee tardy, / And dar’st presume to be so hardy, / To try thy fortune o’re afresh, / I’le wave my title to thy flesh,

1662, [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge: University Press, 1905, canto III, page 104

And the Franks served the Men much the same ſauce when they found them tardy, and made them run their Heats through the Streets

1697, Jeremy Collier, Essays upon Several Moral Subjects

the good mind of Camillo tardied My swift command

c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act III, scene ii]