parley definition | Dictionary.com

par⋅ley

[pahr-lee]

noun, plural -leys, verb, -leyed, -ley⋅ing.

–noun

1.	a discussion or conference.

2.	an informal conference between enemies under a truce, esp. to discuss terms, conditions of surrender, etc.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to hold an informal conference with an enemy under a truce, as between active hostilities.

4.	to speak, talk, or confer.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME parlai < MF parlee, n. use of fem. of parle, ptp. of parler to parle

Related forms:

par⋅ley⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. talk, conversation. 4. discuss, converse.

Par⋅ley

[pahr-lee]

–noun

Peter, pen name of Samuel Griswold Goodrich.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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par·ley (pär'lē)

n. pl. par·leys
A discussion or conference, especially one between enemies over terms of truce or other matters.
intr.v. par·leyed, par·ley·ing, par·leys
To have a discussion, especially with an enemy.

[Middle English, from Old French parlee, from feminine past participle of parler, to talk, from Vulgar Latin *paraulāre, from Late Latin parabolāre, from parabola, discourse; see parable.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Parley

Par"ley\, n.; 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.

Parley

Par"ley\, v. 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. --Shak.

parley (n.)

"conference," especially with an enemy, 1449, from M.Fr. parlée, from fem. pp. of O.Fr. parler "to speak," from L.L. parabolare "to speak (in parables)," from parabola "speech, discourse," from L. parabola "comparison" (see parable). The verb is 14c., probably a separate borrowing of O.Fr. parler.

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