Obs. [ad. L. tard-us slow.]
1. Slow: = TARDY a. 1 a.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, § 321. If naturally a mans memory is tarde of wyt and knowlege.
1624. Heywood, Gunaik., VII. 334. They neither speed, Nor doth their pace seeme tarde.
b. Late: = TARDY a. 1 b. rare–1.
1533[?]. Lyfe of Prestes, ¶ How they ought to pray. Sone absenting them self from diuine seruyce comming tarde into the quyre / but yet wyl go out wyth the fyrst.
1613. R. Cawdrey, Table Alph. (ed. 3), Tarde, late.
2. To take tarde, to overtake, surprise; = ‘to take tardy’ (TARDY a. 2).
1530. Fantasy of the Passyon of the Fox (W. de W.).
| And he is counted crafty that can conuey clene | |
| And he be taken tarde all is not worthe a bene. |
1547. Salesbury, Welsh Dict., Dala ar y gamfa, take tarde.
1578. Timme, Caluine on Gen. iii. 11. 102. But God shall alwayes take vs tarde in the sinne of Adam.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xxiii. (1886), 369. They were convicted, and … almost taken tarde with the deed doing.
B. adv. a. Late. b. Slowly. [F. tard adv.]
1557. in Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., Var. Collect., IV. 223. Forasmoche as Mr. John Hooper [and 5 others] … came into this house tarde, after nyne of the clocke this day, therefore they … are amerced in 12d. a peece.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 11/1. The winter, when as the corruptione goeth somwhat tarder or sloer forwarde.
