tales

[ teylz, tey-leez ]

/ teɪlz, ˈteɪ liz /

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noun Law.

(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.

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

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of tales

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

Words nearby tales

talent, talented, talent scout, talent show, taler, tales, talesman, taleteller, tali-, Taliban, Talibanize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tales in a sentence

The Canterbury Tales was, Strohm writes, “one of the volumes around which the new trade would organize itself.”
A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings|Wendy Smith|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But when the darkness closes in, we actually run to fairy tales and fables.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Actually, rather like Gruber, we feel rather icky about fairy tales.
On Torture, Chuck Johnson & Sondheim|James Poulos|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In reality, prison weddings look nothing like the fairy tales depicted on TV and in bridal magazines.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The popularity of anime tales featuring man-on-man passion is burgeoning among Japanese women.
The Japanese Women Who Love Gay Anime|Brandon Presser|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Monsieur,” growls the baron, “stone walls have ears, you say if only they had tongues; what tales these could tell!
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
He could lie in bed and string himself tales of travel and adventure while Harry was downstairs.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
He carried tales, told lies, and tried to make trouble, for no reason but to gratify his inclinations.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Something I had heard years ago, some old wives' tales about a man's life changing every seven years, kept dinning in my head.
Uncanny Tales|Various
But don't adopt the role of inquisitor—because I'm as good as dead, and dead men tell no tales.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair

British Dictionary definitions for tales

tales

/ (ˈteɪliːz) /

noun law

(functioning as plural) a group of persons summoned from among those present in court or from bystanders to fill vacancies on a jury panel

(functioning as singular) the writ summoning such jurors

Derived forms of tales

talesman, noun

Word Origin for tales

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

tales

Origin of tales

Words nearby tales

Words related to tales

How to use tales in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tales

Derived forms of tales

Word Origin for tales