Tale — Defs

01 n. See Tael.

02 n. That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any rehearsal of what has occured; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.

1.
That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any rehearsal of what has occured; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story.
“We spend our years as a tale that is told.” — Ps. xc. 9.
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.
“The ignorant, . . . who measure by tale, and not by weight.” — Hooker.

“And every shepherd tells his tale, Under the hawthorn in the dale.” — Milton.

“In packing, they keep a just tale of the number.” — Carew.
3.
A count or declaration.(Law) [Obs.]
“Therefore little tale hath he told Of any dream, so holy was his heart.” — Chaucer.

Phrases & compounds

To tell tale of — to make account of.

03 v. i. To tell stories.