tale definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

tale [ tayl ] (plural ta·les)

noun

Definition:

1. narrative: a narrative or account of events

2. short piece of fiction: a short piece of fiction, often one of a connected series

3. piece of gossip: an item of gossip, or a malicious rumor

4. falsehood: a story or report that is untrue

[ Old English talu< Germanic]

Spelling Note

Cultural Note


	The Canterbury Tales, a collection of stories (1387-1400) by English writer Geoffrey Chaucer. The tales, mainly in verse, are told by a group of pilgrims traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas à Becket in Canterbury, England. They range from the bawdy "Miller's Tale" to reworks of traditional stories, e.g., the "Nun's Priest's Tale" about Chanticleer the cock. The Prologue sets the scene for the journey and contains colorful descriptions of the pilgrims themselves.