parley
UK /ˈpɑːli/ · US /ˈpɑɹli/ noun, verb, proper noun
Also a form of parlay
Forms parleys parleying parleyed parlay
- noun A conference, especially one between enemies.
- verb (intransitive) To have a discussion, especially one between enemies.
- proper noun An uncommon surname.
Synonyms
chat discourse moot common confab confabulate conversate converse convo jaw treat word
Etymology
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.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce.
- verb To speak with another; to confer on some point of mutual concern; to discuss orally; hence, specifically, to confer orally with an enemy; to treat with him by words, as on an exchange of prisoners, an armistice, or terms of peace.
Etymology [F. parler speech, talk, fr. parler to speak, LL. parabolare, fr. L. parabola a comparison, parable, in LL., a word. See Parable, and cf. Parliament, Parlor.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “parley”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details