tale

TALE, noun [See Tell.] A story; a narrative; the rehearsal of a series of events or adventures, commonly some trifling incidents; or a fictitious narrative; as the tale of a tub. Marmontel's tales; idle tales. Luke 24:11. We spend our years as a tale that is told Psalms 90:9. 1. Oral relation. 2. Reckoning; account set down. Exodus 5:8. In packing, they keep a just tale of the number. 3. Number reckoned. --The ignorant who measure by tale not be weight. 4. A telling; information; disclosure of any thing secret. Birds--are aptest by their voice to tell tales what they find. In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood. Ezekiel 22:9. 5. In law, a count or declaration. [Tale, in this sense, is obsolete.] 6. In commerce, a weight for gold and silver in China and other parts of the E. Indies; also, a money of account. In China, each tale is 10 maces=100 candareens-1000 cash. TALE, verb intransitive To tell stories.