Tale

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 {Talk}, v. i.] 1. That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any rehearsal of what has occured; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story. ``The tale of Troy divine.'' --Milton. ``In such manner rime is Dante's tale.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

We spend our years as a tale that is told. --Ps. xc. 9. [1913 Webster]

2. A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an enumeration; a count, in distinction from measure or weight; a number reckoned or stated. [1913 Webster]

The ignorant, . . . who measure by tale, and not by weight. --Hooker. [1913 Webster]

And every shepherd tells his tale, Under the hawthornn in the dale. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

In packing, they keep a just tale of the number. --Carew. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) A count or declaration. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

{To tell tale of}, to make account of. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Therefore little tale hath he told Of any dream, so holy was his heart. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Anecdote; story; fable; incident; memoir; relation; account; legend; narrative. [1913 Webster]