tale

[ teyl ]

noun

1. a narrative that relates the details of some real or imaginary event, incident, or case; story:

   a tale about Lincoln's dog.

2. a literary composition having the form of such a narrative.
3. a falsehood; lie.
4. a rumor or piece of gossip, often malicious or untrue.
5. the full number or amount.
6. Archaic. enumeration; count.
7. Obsolete. talk; discourse.

tale

/ teɪl /

noun

1. a report, narrative, or story
2. one of a group of short stories connected by an overall narrative framework
3. 1. a malicious or meddlesome rumour or piece of gossip

      to bear tales against someone

   2. ( in combination )

      talebearer

      taleteller

4. a fictitious or false statement
5. tell tales
   1. to tell fanciful lies
   2. to report malicious stories, trivial complaints, etc, esp to someone in authority
6. tell a tale
   to reveal something important
7. tell its own tale
   to be self-evident
8. archaic.
   1. a number; amount
   2. computation or enumeration
9. an obsolete word for talk

Word History and Origins

Origin of tale¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English talu series, list, narrative, story; cognate with Dutch taal speech, language, German Zahl number, Old Norse tala number, speech. See tell ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of tale¹

Old English talu list; related to Old Frisian tele talk, Old Saxon, Old Norse tala talk, number, Old High German zala number

Idioms and Phrases

see old wives' tale ; tall tale ; tell tales ; thereby hangs a tale .

Example Sentences

A silvery 10-foot-long creature, the oarfish has fueled fisherman’s tales of sea serpents — and in some cultures has been a portent of natural disasters.

From Los Angeles Times

Ultimately, "Wicked" is the tale of friendship overcoming how Elphaba has been ostracized for her unusual appearance: her bright green skin.

From Salon

He’s the one with the Oxford accent and amusing tales who hands around the port and cigars while he plots the hero’s demise.

From Los Angeles Times

His favourite film was Billy Elliot, the tale of a northern working-class boy who fights poverty and prejudice and poverty to become a leading ballet dancer.

From BBC

The premise seems improbable, yet the series is based on a 2020 Chilean documentary feature titled “The Mole Agent,” which tells just such a tale.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account
• anecdote
• fable
• fiction
• legend
• myth
• narrative
• novel
• short story
• yarn