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 .

Related Words

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