tale

American  

[teyl] / teɪl /

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.

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tale British  

/ 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. 1. to tell fanciful lies

   2. to report malicious stories, trivial complaints, etc, esp to someone in authority

6. to reveal something important

7. to be self-evident

8. archaic

   1. a number; amount

   2. computation or enumeration

9. an obsolete word for talk

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tale Idioms  

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

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Etymology

Origin of tale

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

Example Sentences

Everyone who encountered Duncan Spencer has a tale to tell.

From BBC

The willingness of the state to use force to break strikes proved a cautionary tale.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the film’s climactic sequence — the first staged performance of “Hamlet” — Zhao finally provides the tools the viewer needs to navigate this bleak tale.

From Salon

In an era where Latino representation in books is still sorely lacking, four books released in 2022 show what happens when authors take it upon themselves to tell their community’s tales.

From Los Angeles Times

"He has no apparent animus towards anyone or anything," said film and theatre director Mike Nichols, who directed the Broadway premiere of Stoppard's tale of marriage and affairs "The Real Thing".

From Barron's

Related Words

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