tale

tale
tale (n.) O.E. talu "story, tale, the action of telling," from P.Gmc. *talo (Cf. Du. taal "speech, language"), from PIE root *del- "to recount, count." The secondary English sense of "number, numerical reckoning" (c.1200) probably was the primary one in Germanic; Cf. teller (see TELL (Cf. tell)) and O.Fris. tale, M.Du. tal "number," O.S. tala "number," O.H.G. zala, Ger. Zahl "number."
The ground sense of the Modern English word in its main meaning, then, might have been "an account of things in their due order." Related to TALK (Cf. talk) and TELL (Cf. tell). Meaning "things divulged that were given secretly, gossip" is from mid-14c.; first record of talebearer "tattletale" is late 15c.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • talé — talé …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • Tale — Tale, n. [AS. talu number, speech, narrative; akin to D. taal speech, language, G. zahl number, OHG. zala, Icel. tal, tala, number, speech, Sw. tal, Dan. tal number, tale speech, Goth. talzjan to instruct. Cf. {Tell}, v. t., {Toll} a tax, also… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tale — W3 [teıl] n [: Old English; Origin: talu] 1.) a story about exciting imaginary events tale of ▪ tales of adventure ▪ a book of old Japanese folk tales (=traditional stories) ▪ a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen ▪ a caution …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Tale — may refer to:*Cautionary tale, a traditional story told in folklore, to warn its hearer of a danger *Fairy tale, a fictional story that usually features folkloric characters (such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, witches, giants, and talking… …   Wikipedia

  • tale — [ teıl ] noun count ** 1. ) a story about imaginary events or people: tale of: tales of bravery and romance 2. ) a spoken account of someone s experiences, especially when they are made to seem more exciting or unpleasant than they really were:… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • talé — talé, ée [ tale ] adj. • taulé « broyé » v. 1330; repris 1860; de taler ♦ Meurtri, taché, en parlant des fruits. Pêches talées. ⊗ HOM. Taller. ● talé Participe passé de taler. talé, ée [tale] adj. ÉTYM. V. 1330, taulé « …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • tale — [n1] story account, anecdote, fable, fairy tale, fiction, folk tale, legend, myth, narration, narrative, novel, relation, report, romance, saga, short story, yarn; concept 282 tale [n2] made up story canard, chestnut*, clothesline*, cock and bull …   New thesaurus

  • Tale — (Балтэзерс,Латвия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Senču prospekts 45, Балтэзерс, LV 2164, Латвия …   Каталог отелей

  • Tale — Tale, n. See {Tael}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Tale — Tale, v. i. To tell stories. [Obs.] Chaucer. Gower. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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