tales

[ teylz, tey-leez ]
/ teɪlz, ˈteɪ liz /

noun Law.

(used with a plural verb) persons chosen to serve on the jury when the original panel is insufficiently large: originally selected from among those present in court.
(used with a singular verb) the order or writ summoning such jurors.

Origin of tales

1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin tālēs ( dē circumstantibus) such (of the bystanders)

Definition for tales (2 of 2)

tale
[ teyl ]
/ teɪl /

noun

Origin of tale

before 900; Middle English; Old English talu series, list, narrative, story; cognate with Dutch taal speech, language, German Zahl number, Old Norse tala number, speech. See tell1

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH tale

tail tale

Example sentences from the Web for tales

British Dictionary definitions for tales (1 of 2)

tales
/ (ˈteɪliːz) /

noun law

(functioning as plural) a group of persons summoned from among those present in court or from bystanders to fill vacancies on a jury panel
(functioning as singular) the writ summoning such jurors

Derived forms of tales

talesman, noun

Word Origin for tales

C15: from Medieval Latin phrase tālēs dē circumstantibus such men from among the bystanders, from Latin tālis such

British Dictionary definitions for tales (2 of 2)

tale
/ (teɪl) /

noun

Word Origin for tale

Old English talu list; related to Old Frisian tele talk, Old Saxon, Old Norse tala talk, number, Old High German zala number

Idioms and Phrases with tales

tale

see old wives' tale; tall tale; tell tales; thereby hangs a tale.