parley

[ pahr-lee ]
See synonyms for parley on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural par·leys.
  1. a discussion or conference.

  2. an informal conference between enemies under a truce, especially to discuss terms, conditions of surrender, etc.

verb (used without object),par·leyed, par·ley·ing.
  1. to hold an informal conference with an enemy under a truce, as between active hostilities.

  2. to speak, talk, or confer.

Origin of parley

1
1400–50; late Middle English parlai<Middle French parlee, noun use of feminine of parle, past participle of parler to parle

Other words for parley

Other words from parley

  • par·ley·er, noun

Words Nearby parley

Other definitions for Parley (2 of 2)

Parley
[ pahr-lee ]

noun
  1. Peter, pen name of Samuel Griswald Goodrich.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use parley in a sentence

  • In the time-eaten wall Clara had found a fissure through which she could watch the parley between Thurstane and the Apaches.

    Overland | John William De Forest
  • After some parley these were accepted, but under the circumstances the Emperor felt that mildness must be seasoned by menace.

    The Life of Napoleon Bonaparte | William Milligan Sloane

British Dictionary definitions for parley

parley

/ (ˈpɑːlɪ) /


noun
  1. a discussion, esp between enemies under a truce to decide terms of surrender, etc

verb
  1. (intr) to discuss, esp with an enemy under a truce

  2. (tr) to speak (a foreign language)

Origin of parley

1
C16: from French, from parler to talk, from Medieval Latin parabolāre, from Late Latin parabola speech, parable

Derived forms of parley

  • parleyer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012