parley

English

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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɑɹli/, /ˈpɑːleɪ/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (some non-rhotic accents) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑːlɪ/
• Rhymes: -ɑɹli, -ɑːleɪ

Noun

parley (countable and uncountable, plural parleys)

1. A conference, especially one between enemies.
   • 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. , London: T N 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, →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

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

Translations

Verb

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

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

• parlay

Translations

See also

• parley-vous
• parle

References

• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “parley”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• Player, Rapley, pearly, player, prelay, replay