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tardif

late

adjective tar-DEEF Rare

Origin: Latin tardivus, from tardus 'slow'

Also means

belated

Usage Note

Tardif describes something that happens later than expected or than is ideal, such as une récolte tardive (a late harvest) or un repentir tardif (belated regret). The feminine form is tardive. It implies a judgment that something should have happened sooner, unlike en retard which is situational lateness.

Examples

"Il a eu un regret tardif."

Natural Translation

He had a belated regret.

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