“Tel” is a form of
telegram
/ˈtɛləˌɡɹæm/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms telegrams telegramming telegrammed telegramme
- noun A message transmitted by telegraph.
- verb (intransitive) To send a telegram.
- verb (transitive) To send a telegram to (a person).
- verb (transitive) To send (a message) in a telegram.
- proper noun An encrypted, cloud-based instant messaging service.
- noun A Telegram channel. “Does anyone have the Telegram link?”
- verb (informal, transitive) To send a message using the Telegram instant messaging service.
Synonyms
Etymology
From tele- + -gram.
From telegram.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A message sent by telegraph; a telegraphic dispatch.
Etymology [Gr. -gram.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “telegram”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details