Mayjl  +  293647 Wed, 15 Nov 06 10:42 PM I got a note from my daughter's school regarding the school rule of tardiness. The note said: ** TARDIES ** 3rd unexcused tardy = LUNCH DETENTION 5th unexcused tardy = AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION  ....... I looked for the word, "tardy", in the dictionary, and the dictionary showed that "tardy" is an adjective word.  Tardiness is its noun, but the "tardy" on the note was a noun and a plural form, tardies.  I'm puzzled.  Could someone help me on this one?  Thank you! : ) Mayjl Joined on Mon, Nov 6 2006 Taiwan New Member 17 Nouns, Plurals

	Marius Hancu  +  293652 Wed, 15 Nov 06 11:00 PM Get a suscription to this dictionary ------- tar·dy    Function:noun Inflected Form(s):-es Etymology:tardy, adjective : an instance of being tardy (as for class) http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com --------- Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Nouns

	Mayjl  +  293662 Wed, 15 Nov 06 11:42 PM Thank you! : ) I have checked my "Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English" and other online dictionaries, and all these dictionaries didn't have this information of "tardy being a noun." I checked on the other Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary, and yes, it did show the same information that you just posted.  I always think that Lognman Dictionary is a good dictionary, and it seems that the dictionary needs an update.  Mayjl Nouns, Dates

	Clive  +  611506 Mon, 15 Dec 08 08:27 PM Hi, I think 'tardy'as a noun is used only in N. American schools. You might like to look at the British-oriented word 'Tardis'.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TARDIS  This is a device could help you to reduce your number of tardies. Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,657 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Nouns, Writing, Countries, United States, American

	Philip  +  612187 Tue, 16 Dec 08 04:29 PM Words used in certain fields are often changed in meaning and usage, simply by the need for something more efficient.  Tardy is an example. Thirty-five years ago, access was listed in my dictionary only as a noun:  people gained access to something.  Now, because of the much more common use of the word in the technological world, it has become a verb.  Good examples of the evolution of lanuguage. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Nouns, Usages