tardily

comparative more tardily · superlative most tardily

1. in a tardy fashion; belatedly; late

   Suyin had tardily, but accurately, realized that night life in this urbane company was bound to be more exciting than a cinema date with two sincere, but unelegant, factory workers.

   1981, Janet W. Salaff, Working daughters of Hong Kong: filial piety or power in the family?

   Synonyms: lateward

2. slowly

   A Chinese mob in 'Takau insulted the members of the Japanese legation as they were returning from Peking. The mob's action led to a tumult which was tardily suppressed by the authorities.

   1894 August 8, “Japanese Mob”, in The Climax, volume VIII, number 9, Richmond, KY, page 1

   1 more example

   You will find near this place, if you follow not too tardily, a dead hare; eat, and be refreshed. Come on, my enemy; we have yet to wrestle for our lives, but many hard and miserable hours must you endure, until that period shall arrive.

   1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter VII, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. […], volume III, London: […] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, page 144

   Synonyms: ponderously