Where did the word 'tardy' originate from?

Question

Did a teacher get tired of a student showing up late day-after-day and insulted him by comparing that student to a retarded person?

'Tardy' does have part of the word 'retard', and it would have been a pretty clever insult that could have caught on and evolved into the standard word it is today.

Serious question. Give a good answer. I get enough tardy answers as it is!

Answer 1

To be tardy means to be slow.

To be retarded means to be slowed down.

Tardy is not short for retarded.

Answer 2

Book

Answer 3

Origin Of The Word Retard

Answer 4

in the early 20th century children were taught discipline and responsiblility. Being "late" was unacceptable. So I think that term originated from the fact that only retarded children couldnt make it to school and appointments on time because of their condition. so when regular children started being late for stuff adults called them tards or being tardy. Sorry i had to do it. lol :)

Answer 5

Alteration of Middle English tardive, slow, from Old French tardif, from Vulgar Latin *tardīvus, from Latin tardus

Answer 6

ORIGIN Latin tardus ‘slow’. • adjective (tardier, tardiest) 1 delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late. 2 slow in action or response.

Answer 7

the condition is often caused by lateness in development tardy ----tard ---late .........get it? latin word for late

Answer 8

From the latin "tard" which is late....