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Webster 1913 Edition


Parley

Par′ley

,
Noun.
;
pl.
Parleys
(#)
.
[F.
parler
speech, talk, fr.
parler
to speak, LL.
parabolare
, fr. L.
parabola
a comparison, parable, in LL., a word. See
Parable
, and cf.
Parliament
,
Parlor
.]
Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce.
We yield on
parley
, but are stormed in vain.
Dryden.
To beat a parley
(Mil.)
,
to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.

Par′ley

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Parleyed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Parleying
.]
To speak with another; to confer on some point of mutual concern; to discuss orally; hence, specifically, to confer orally with an enemy; to treat with him by words, as on an exchange of prisoners, an armistice, or terms of peace.
They are at hand,
To
parley
or to fight; therefore prepare.
Shakespeare

Webster 1828 Edition


Parley

P`ARLEY

,
Verb.
I.
[L. fero, or pario.] In a general sense, to speak with another; to discourse; but appropriately, to confer with on some point of mutual concern; to discuss orally; hence, to confer with an enemy; to treat with by words; as on an exchange of prisoners, on a cessation of arms, or the subject of peace.

P`ARLEY

,
Noun.
Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; but appropriately, a conference with an enemy in war.
We yield on parley, but are storm'd in vain.
To beat a parley, in military language, to beat a drum or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.

Definition 2024


parley

parley

English

Noun

parley (plural parleys)

  1. A conference, especially one between enemies.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Dryden
      We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain.
    • 1920, Peter B. Kyne, The Understanding Heart, Chapter IV
      Without further parley Garland rode off up the hog's-back and the sheriff rode off down it …

Translations

Verb

parley (third-person singular simple present parleys, present participle parleying, simple past and past participle parleyed)

  1. (intransitive) To have a discussion, especially one between enemies.
    • 1638 Herbert, Sir Thomas Some years travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique
      ...at day break we found the villaine, who, loath to parlee in fire and ſhot, fled amaine and left us...

Translations

See also

References

  • parley” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary (2001).

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