tales
Americannoun
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(used with a plural verb) persons chosen to serve on the jury when the original panel is insufficiently large: originally selected from among those present in court.
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(used with a singular verb) the order or writ summoning such jurors.
noun
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(functioning as plural) a group of persons summoned from among those present in court or from bystanders to fill vacancies on a jury panel
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(functioning as singular) the writ summoning such jurors
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tales
1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin tālēs ( dē circumstantibus ) such (of the bystanders)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The “Stranger Things: Tales from Hawkins” graphic novels have previously performed that service.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
Tales of withering love leading to betrayal among the upper middle classes are almost as common as murder mysteries.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
In recent months, he had documented his deteriorating health on social media, his Talk TV programme and his podcast Tales of the Whales.
From BBC • Aug. 4, 2025
Donald’s Tales of Adventure Dinner Buffet launches May 16 and features what’s described a a campfire-style barbecue.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2025
“You won’t be seen at all, Mill. You’ll be our advance scout, But skip the Tales for once and tell us the story of how Miss Per- and our secret procurer of necessary items.”
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
