'To tell tale of' definitions:

Definition of 'To tell tale of'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 hawthorn 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]