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.

---

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.

---

parley British  

/ 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)

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

Optional garnishes: parley, sliced lemon and/or save a few whole shrimp to place on top when serving.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2024

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

She argued a little with Sebastian Gomez to save face, but she almost immediately accepted the proposal that Miguel should go out with a white flag to parley with the police.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende