The word “tardy” appears throughout literature as a versatile descriptor that conveys not only literal lateness but also a broader sense of delay, hesitation, or lethargy in action or fate. In narrative works like Dickens’s depiction of a day that seems to lag behind his protagonist’s long journey ([1]), and Keller’s narrative of couriers whose late arrival has significant implications ([2]), “tardy” grounds events in a palpable slowness that affects the story’s progression. Poetic and dramatic contexts deepen this nuance, as seen in Shakespeare’s meditation on love’s timing ([3]) and Homer’s epic portrayal of a sun that awakens too slowly to signal the commencement of warriors’ toils ([4], [5], [6]). Meanwhile, in reflections on human character and decision-making, authors such as Dumas note “tardy” impressions in personal demeanor ([7]), while legal and political narratives use it to underscore delayed justice or action ([8]). In each instance, “tardy” enriches the text by suggesting that time, attention, or justice may arrive too late, with varied emotional and narrative consequences.