tales

[ teylz, tey-leez ]

noun

, Law.

1. (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.
2. (used with a singular verb) the order or writ summoning such jurors.

tales

/ ˈteɪliːz /

noun

1. functioning as plural a group of persons summoned from among those present in court or from bystanders to fill vacancies on a jury panel
2. functioning as singular the writ summoning such jurors

Derived Forms

• ˈtalesman, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tales¹

1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin tālēs ( dē circumstantibus ) such (of the bystanders)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tales¹

C15: from Medieval Latin phrase tālēs dē circumstantibus such men from among the bystanders, from Latin tālis such

Related Words

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