parol

American  

[puh-rohl, par-uhl] / pəˈroʊl, ˈpær əl /

noun

1. something stated or declared.

2. by parol, by word of mouth; orally.

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adjective

1. given by word of mouth; oral; not contained in documents.

   parol evidence.

parol British  

/ ˈpærəl, pəˈrəʊl /

noun

1. (formerly) the pleadings in an action when presented by word of mouth

2. an oral statement; word of mouth (now only in the phrase by parol )

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adjective

1. 1. (of a contract, lease, etc) made orally or in writing but not under seal

   2. expressed or given by word of mouth

      parol evidence

Etymology

Origin of parol

First recorded in 1470–80; earlier parole, Anglo-French, Old French, from unattested Vulgar Latin paraula, syncopated variant of unattested paravola, from Latin parabola parable; cf. parley

Example Sentences

In the past, war survivors have used things like electricity and water bills—called parol evidence—to corroborate their property claims.

From Slate • Oct. 4, 2022

The moment it gets into a letter, that moment the parol statement ends.

From The Trial of Charles Random de Berenger, Sir Thomas Cochrane, commonly called Lord Cochrane, the Hon. Andrew Cochrane Johnstone, Richard Gathorne Butt, Ralph Sandom, Alexander M'Rae, John Peter Holloway, and Henry Lyte for A Conspiracy In the Court of King's Bench, Guildhall, on Wednesday the 8th, and Thursday the 9th of June, 1814 by Gurney, William Brodie

The parol, the plaintiff shall not demur, shall not have his suit.

From Bart Ridgeley A Story of Northern Ohio by Riddle, A. G.

I think that letter, if you insist on knowing my views, should come into evidence, and not parol testimony taken up; but my reasons for declining the office were mostly personal in their nature.

From History of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, by the House of Representatives, and his trial by the Senate for high crimes and misdemeanors in office, 1868 by Ross, Edmund G. (Edmund Gibson)

"I have given him my parol, that he shall have safe conduct!"

From Mohun, or, the Last Days of Lee by Cooke, John Esten