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Definition of parley - 4 dictionary results

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


par⋅ley⋅er, noun


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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Word Origin & History

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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