Crossword clues for parley
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Parley \Par"ley\, n.; pl. Parleys. [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.] Mutual discourse or conversation; discussion; hence, an oral conference with an enemy, as with regard to a truce.
We yield on parley, but are stormed in vain.
--Dryden.
To beat a parley (Mil.), to beat a drum, or sound a trumpet, as a signal for holding a conference with the enemy.
Parley \Par"ley\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Parleyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Parleying.] 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.
They are at hand,
To parley or to fight; therefore prepare.
--Shak.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"conference, speech," especially with an enemy, mid-15c., from Middle French parlée, from fem. past participle of Old French parler "to speak" (11c.), from Vulgar Latin *paraulare, from Late Latin parabolare "to speak (in parables)," from parabola "speech, discourse," from Latin parabola "comparison" (see parable).
late 14c., "to speak, talk, confer," probably a separate borrowing of Old French parler "to speak" (see parley (n.)). Related: Parleyed; parleying. Meaning "to discuss terms" is 1560s, from the noun.
Wiktionary
n. A conference, especially one between enemy. vb. (context intransitive English) To have a discussion, especially one between enemy.
WordNet
n. a negotiation between enemies
v. discuss, as between enemies
Wikipedia
Parley is a discussion or conference, especially one between enemies over terms of a truce or other matters. For example, in Julius Caesar (a tragedy by William Shakespeare), the respective followers and armies of Brutus and Antony are ready for a truce. The root of the word parley is parler, which is the French verb "to speak"; specifically the conjugation parlez "you speak", whether as imperative or indicative. Beginning in the High Middle Ages with the expansion of monarchs, a parley, or "talk", was a meeting held between kings and their Chief Retainers. Parleys were part of the many changes in Europe, especially regarding governments. These meetings can be attributed to the formation of parliaments, which are derived from a similar root, parliamentum, simply meaning "talking".
The internationally recognized symbol for offering parley is a black flag, particularly in the context of shipping. For example, a ship at war wishing to enter parley with its attackers may raise a black flag to indicate this.
Usage examples of "parley".
He it was, on the Christian Islands, who, when the Iroquois had proposed a similar parley for the purpose of massacring the Hurons, invited their chiefs into the Huron camp and brained them for their treachery.
He was able to talk some backers into putting up the capital for a chain of motels in the South, parleyed the money from that into a shipbuilding yard, branched out into importing fruit from South America in his own ships, opened some processing and packaging plants, and he was on his way.
Chubb succumbed immediately, sounded a parley, and gave up the fort, on condition that he and his men should be protected from the Indians, sent to Boston, and exchanged for French and Abenaki prisoners.
At the end of a month, during which the people of Faenza had suffered all the horrors of famine, delegates came out to parley with Caesar with a view to capitulation.
Parley, headed, or represented in dealings with other groups, by an elected Isleman or Islewoman, In the Reaches there is often no government other than the Isle Parley and the Town Parleys.
But before proceeding to extremities, Montoya sent out Fathers Mendoza and Domenecchi with some of the principal inhabitants of the reduction to parley with the Mamelucos, who, under their celebrated leader Antonio Raposo, were encamped outside the place.
Halla left the wyrm beside the shelves and pools, and sprang off through the milkwood trees, traversing meadow and dale and grove to gather the unicorns to come parley with the wyrms.
Ambiorix was intriguing in the councils of the Nervii to see what damage he could do en route to his parley with the Treveri.
Do thou parley on the bridge as thou saidst, or thy head shall answer for it.
The Malazan contingent approaches, and the Warlord seeks your presence at the parley.
I was admitted after a long parley by a shaggy serving-man who looked to be apter at cutting throats than at waiting table.
Branicki looked fiercely at me, and said wrathfully that he had come to fight and not to parley.
Marcus Aurelius of the Cottae, if feasible I would like you to return to me here the moment I send you word that a German delegation has arrived to parley.
When the tyrant saw that there was little to be got by parleying with my Lord Mayor, he fell into an hellish rage, and resolved that again, with his army of doubters, he would another time assault the town of Mansoul.
When Diabolus saw that by drumming he could not work out Mansoul to his will, the next night he sendeth his drummer without his drum, still to let the townsmen know that he had a mind to parley with them.