parley

¹ American  

[pahr-lee] / ˈpɑr li /

noun

plural

parleys

1. a discussion or conference.

   Synonyms:

   conversation, talk

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

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verb (used without object)

parleyed, parleying

1. to hold an informal conference with an enemy under a truce, as between active hostilities.

2. to speak, talk, or confer.

   Synonyms:

   converse, discuss

Parley ² American  

[pahr-lee] / ˈpɑr li /

noun

1. Peter, pen name of Samuel Griswald Goodrich.

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parley British  

/ ˈpɑːlɪ /

noun

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

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verb

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

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

Other Word Forms

• parleyer noun

Etymology

Origin of parley

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

Example Sentences

Sadat was assassinated in October 1981, a scant three years after that historic parley.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2025

Back at the studio the anchors vacuously nod at Nandor's escalating trumpery, as they do when The Guide wrests Joanna's microphone away to parley on behalf of all vampires.

From Salon • Aug. 4, 2023

Putin parks himself at one end of a ridiculously long conference table to parley with a visiting dignitary barely in shouting range.

From Washington Post • Feb. 22, 2022

After the Twitter tango exchange, Falck reached out to his old friend Shah to see if he and their bosses would be amenable to a parley.

From The Verge • Nov. 4, 2021

Then he raised his empty hand, palm outward in token of parley.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien