tidy

From Middle English tidy, tydy, tidi (“timely, seasonal, opportune”), equivalent to tide (“time”) +‎ -y. Cognate with Dutch tijdig (“timely”), Middle Low German tīdich (“timely”), German zeitig (“seasonal, timely”), Danish tidig (“timely”), Swedish tidig (“timely”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈtaɪdi/

• Audio

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• Rhymes: -aɪdi

tidy (comparative tidier, superlative tidiest)

1. Arranged neatly and in order.

   Keep Britain tidy.

2. Not messy; neat and controlled.
3. (colloquial) Satisfactory; comfortable.
4. (colloquial) Generous, considerable.

   The scheme made a tidy profit.

5. (obsolete) In good time; at the right time; timely; seasonable; opportune; favourable; fit; suitable.
   • Tusser

     if weather be fair and tidy

6. (obsolete) Brave; smart; skillful; fine; good.
7. Appropriate or suitable as regards occasion, circumstances, arrangement, or order.

• neat
• orderly
• presentable
• spick and span

• messy
• untidy

• hair-tidy

• tidily
• tidiness

tidy (third-person singular simple present tidies, present participle tidying, simple past and past participle tidied)

1. To make tidy; to neaten.

tidy (plural tidies)

1. A tabletop container for pens and stationery.

   a desk tidy

2. A cover, often of tatting, drawn work, or other ornamental work, for the back of a chair, the arms of a sofa, etc.
3. (dated) A child's pinafore.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Wright to this entry?)

4. The wren.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Drayton to this entry?)

tidy

1. (Wales) Expression of positive agreement, usually in reply to a question.

Often used by people from South Wales to end a sentence or as a reply to a question, meaning "Great" or "Fine", for example "I'm going to the shops for ten fags" may get the reply "Tidy."