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tidy up

 - 2 dictionary results

ti⋅dy

[tahy-dee] adjective, -di⋅er, -di⋅est, verb, -died, -dy⋅ing, noun, plural -dies.
–adjective
1. neat, orderly, or trim, as in appearance or dress: a tidy room; a tidy person.
2. clearly organized and systematic: a tidy mind; a tidy way of working.
3. tolerably good; acceptable: They worked out a tidy arrangement agreeable to all.
4. fairly large; considerable: a tidy sum.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
5. to make tidy or neat (often fol. by up).
–noun
6. any of various articles for keeping things tidy, as a box having small drawers and compartments.
7. an antimacassar.

Origin:
1200–50; ME tidi, tidy seasonable, hence good; c. D tijdig. See tide 1 , -y 1


ti⋅di⋅ly, adverb
ti⋅di⋅ness, noun


1. messy, sloppy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

tidy 
c.1250, probably originally "in season, timely, opportune, excellent," from tide in the sense of "season, time" (see tide). Cf. O.H.G. zitig, Ger. zeitig, Du. tijdig, Dan. tidig "timely." Meaning "neat and in order" first recorded 1706. The verb in this sense is from 1821.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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