parley

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English parlai (“speech, parley”), from Old French parler (“to talk; to speak”), from Late Latin parabolō, from Latin parabola (“comparison”), from Ancient Greek παραβολή (parabolḗ), from παρά (pará, “beside”) with βολή (bolḗ, “throwing”). Doublet of palaver.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ˈpɑɹli/, /ˈpɑːleɪ/
  • Audio (Southern England)(file)
  • (some non-rhotic accents) IPA(key): /ˈpɑːlɪ/
  • Rhymes: -ɑɹli, -ɑːleɪ

Noun[edit]

parley (countable and uncountable, plural parleys)

  1. A conference, especially one between enemies.
    • 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, (please specify the page number):
      We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain.
    • 1920, Peter B. Kyne, chapter IV, in The Understanding Heart:
      Without further parley Garland rode off up the hog's-back and the sheriff rode off down it [...]
    • 2012 March 24, Eric Schmitt, “U.S. Plans No Charges Over Deadly Strike in Pakistan”, in The New York Times‎[1], →ISSN:
      In the highest-level parley of leaders of the two countries since the accident, President Obama is to meet with Pakistan’s prime minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Tuesday in Seoul, South Korea, after a nuclear security conference there, to discuss Afghanistan and other security issues.

Usage notes[edit]

Not to be confused with parlay (“bet or series of bets where the stake and winnings are cumulatively carried forward”).

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

parley (third-person singular simple present parleys, present participle parleying, simple past and past participle parleyed)

  1. (intransitive) To have a discussion, especially one between enemies.
    • 1638, Sir Thomas Herbert, Some years travels into divers parts of Asia and Afrique:
      [...] at day break we found the villaine, who, loath to parlee in fire and ſhot, fled amaine and left us [...]
    • 1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, “Springing a Mine”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC, page 527:
      "That is droll. Listen yet one time. You are very spiritual. Can you make a honorable lady of Her?" / "Don't be so malicious," says Mr. Bucket. / "Or a haughty gentleman of Him?" cries Madamoiselle, referring to Sir Leicester with ineffable disdain. "Eh! O then regard him! The poor infant! Ha! ha! ha!" / "Come, come, why this is worse Parlaying than the other," says Mr. Bucket. "Come along!"
    • 1865, “Tom the Giant—His Wife Jane, and Jack the Tinkeard, as Told by the ‘Drolls’”, in Robert Hunt, editor, Popular Romances of the West of England; or, The Drolls, Traditions, and Superstitions of Old Cornwall (First Series), London: John Camden Hotten, […], →OCLC, page 45:
      Jack "parlayed" with them until he had completed his task, and then he closed the gate in their faces.

Usage notes[edit]

Not to be confused with parlay (“to carry forward the stake and winnings from a bet on to a subsequent wager or series of wagers; to increase (an asset, money, etc.) by gambling or investing in a daring manner; to convert (a situation, thing, etc.) into something better”).

Alternative forms[edit]

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Anagrams[edit]

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