(a) To speak, talk; say; speak (of sb. or sth.); speak (to sb., against sb.); make mention (of sth.); talk (to sb.); ~ of no mete, iron. have nothing to eat; ~ of textes, cite authorities; also, with selected adverbs: ~ forth (on, oute), speak up, speak out; ~ togeder, talk together, converse; also, in parenthetical inf. phrase used for emphasis: forth to ~ of, to speak of (sb.) [quot. c1395]; (b) to speak of (sb.); say (sth.); say (sth. to sb.), tell (sb. sth.); recite (sth.), say over [quot. a1333, 2nd]; also in proverbs; ~ an other tale, tell (sb.) something else; ~ bi mouth, say (sth. to sb.) directly; ~ harm bi, speak evil of (sb.); ~ in ere, tell (sth.) in (someone's) ear, whisper (sth. to sb.); ~ in pris, speak of (sb.) with praise, praise (sb.); ~ more speche, say more; ~ pris of, speak praise of (sb.); ~ tale in time, say something opportunely; ~ the aungel no tale, of Mary: hold no extended conversation with the angel; ~ (oute) word, ~ wordes, utter or pronounce a word (words); also fig.; speak words; (c) in prov. expressions, with ref. to the silence of the dead: ~ no tale(s, ~ no more no tale; (d) with clause, usu. introduced by hou, that, etc.: to say (to sb. that sth. is so), tell (sb. how one did sth.), etc.; also, without that: say (sth. is so, etc.); ~ oute bi the mouth what, say aloud what (one thinks); (e) to address (sb.), speak to; (f) to debate (sth.), discuss, talk over;—with clause as obj.; ~ oute, blurt out (sth.), talk unrestrainedly about; (g) introducing directly quoted speech: to say (certain specified words); tell (sb. certain specified words), say (to sb. certain specified words); (h) to give (sb. an answer);—also with clause as obj. [quot. 1415]; also, answer (sb.) [last quot.].

(a) Of an author: to tell in writing, state in a text; mention (sb.) in a text, state (sth., a fact) in a work, tell (sb. sth.) in a written text; also, with clause as obj.: state (that sth. is so, etc.); of a written text, book, etc.: state a fact, make a statement, say; tell (of sth.); tell (sb. sth.); with clause: say (to sb. sth. is so); of a language: express (what sb. says), communicate; ~ on english, write in English; ~ tale of, write about (sth.), tell of; also, impers. hit telleth, it says (in a text); hit is tolde; as telleth in the tale, as it says in the story; (b) introducing a direct quotation: of an author, a language: to say (certain specified words); also, cite (an exact title of a text); impers. that is on english to ~, that is to say in English (certain specified words); (c) in parenthetical inf. and participial phrases, used for emphasis: pertli to ~, to speak plainly; to ~ shorte, shortli for to ~, withouten more tale tolde, etc.: to make a long story short, without more ado, etc.; wonderful to ~, strange to say; also, in impers. clauses as parenthetical aside to the reader: wer long you to ~, it would take a long time to tell you (sth.); what holdeth hit longe to ~ (to ~ longe), what use is it to drag out the story?, to make a long story short; (d) ~ oute manere of translacioun, to set forth a manner of translation; (e) to refer to (sth.).

(a) To tell a story aloud, relate an event, recount a miracle; ~ of, tell the story of (sb., an event, a battle, etc.); ~ to, relate an account or a story to (sb.); with adverbs: ~ forth (on), continue a story, get on with a tale, tell on; (b) ~ of, to give (sb.) an oral account of (an act), tell (sb.) about (sth.); (c) to recount in speech (sth., an event, a deed, the story or history of sth., etc.); also, tell (sb. the story of sth., one's life), recount (to sb. battles, wonders, etc.); with clause: relate aloud (how sb. did sth., how sth. transpired, etc.); recount (to sb. how sb. did sth., etc.); with adv.: ~ forth, tell out (deeds), recount openly; ~ (al) the cas, recount (all) the matter; also, tell (sb.) what happened; ~ ginninge and ende, tell (sb.) the whole story, give (sb.) an account from beginning to end; ~ tale, give an account of events; (d) to tell aloud (a parable, legend, romance, story, etc.); tell (sb. a story, tale, etc.); also in proverbs; ~ forth tale, tell out a story, get on with (one's) tale; heren ~ a fore-bisne (tales), heren stories (scriptures, etc.) tolde, hear a parable (tales, scriptural stories, etc.) told aloud; (e) to tell (a joke, an old saying, etc.); sing (a song for sb.); ~ (idel, mirie) tales, engage in repartee, talk idly; (f) to tell aloud (the content of a dream), relate (a vision); tell (sb. sth. experienced in a dream, what one dreamed, etc.); ~ word after word, relate in full detail (the content of a dream).

(a) Of an author, a writer, poet, etc.: to recount in writing, give an account in a text, write, set forth a story; ~ of, write of (sb. or sth.), tell of; ~ forth of, set forth the story of (sb. or sth.); ~ oute, give the full story, set forth; (b) ~ o (of), of the narrator of a text: to tell (the reader) of (sb. or sth.); ~ forth of; (c) of an author, a writer: to relate (miracles, deeds, etc.), tell (a story) in writing, recount (an event) in a text; also, of the narrator of a written work: tell (the reader a tale, romance, etc.);—also without obj. [1st quot.]; of the four Evangelists: tell the story of (Christ's Passion); (d) of a book, gospel, story, etc.: to give an account, relate, recount; ~ of, tell the story of (sb. or sth.); (e) of a book: to tell (a story); of a text, story: relate (how sb. did sth., how sth. happened, that sb. did sth., etc.); (f) impers. hit telleth, hit) is tolde, it tells (is told) in a text, story, etc.; hit was wonder to ~.

(a) In phrase: ~ on, to give a verbal explanation (of sth.); (b) to explain (sth.) in speech, elucidate (the meaning of sth., the theme of a story, etc.); explain (sth. to sb.); tell (why sth. is so, how sth. came to be, etc.); ~ oute, to explain or describe (sth., God) fully; ~ word and ende, explain everything; (c) of an author, a writer: to explain something in writing; treat (of a topic) in a text; explain (sth.) in a written work; discuss (sth.) in a text; explain (to sb. in a text that sth. stands for sth. else); of a book or section of a book, the Bible: give an explanation; explain (sth., how sth. happened); discuss (sth.), treat of; also, impers. long hit wer to ~ of, it would take a long time to treat of (sth.); (d) to teach, give instruction; instruct (sb.); teach (sth.), teach about (sth.); teach (sb. sth.), instruct (sb. how he should do sth.); ~ on; ~ of, teach (sb.) about (sth.); ~ us to that child, instruct us with regard to that child; (e) of an author: to give instruction in a written work; instruct (sb.) in a text; teach (sb. of sth.) in a text; teach (sb. sth.) in a text; of the Bible: teach (sb.).

(a) To inform (sb.); ~ of, inform (sb.) of (sb. or sth.), apprise of; thurgh tale as man me tolde, as I am informed; (b) to inform (sb.) of (sth.);—also with direct question or declarative statement; ~ him everi a grot, inform him of every detail, inform him fully; ~ tale, give (sb.) information (about sth.); (c) with clause as obj.: ~ that (if, wher, etc.), to inform (sb. that sb. did sth., if sth. may be done, where sb. is, etc.); ~ me what the is, tell me what is wrong; also, with adv.: ~ fore that; also, impers. hit was tolde hire if, she was informed that if (sth. happened, etc).; (d) of an author, a writer, Christ in the gospel, etc.: to inform (sb. in a text); also, tell (sb. sth. in a text); of a book, story, the Bible, Biblical authority, etc.: inform (sb.); also, tell (sb. sth.); (e) with diminished force, in emphatic expressions often used chiefly for rime: as) ich telle the (you), as) ich telle hit the; (f) to point out (to sb. his vices or faults).

(a) To make disclosure [quot. a1425(c1395)]; disclose (sth.) in speech or writing, make known; reveal (to sb. sth., an emotion, etc.); divulge (a name), tell (sb. one's name); confide (sth., one's feelings); also, with clause as obj. [often difficult to distinguish from sense 4.(c)]: reveal (how sth. is done), disclose (to sb. what sb. has), etc.; ~ oute; ~ of, disclose from (what stock one has come); impers. hit shal ben tolde him that, it shall be revealed to him that (sth. is so); if hit to ~ be, if it may be revealed; (b) to tell (a secret), reveal (secret counsel, secret matters); ~ oute; (c) to reveal (sth.) by an act, appearance, etc.; indicate (sth.), make known; taken and ~ in, indicate something by (a sign), serve as (witness); (d) in proverbs.

(a) To make proclamation, announce something; proclaim (sth.), announce, make public;—also with clause as obj.; proclaim (God's name, God's work, the kingdom of heaven, etc.); of the heavens: proclaim (God's praise, righteousness, joy); fig. of certain signs: herald (the end of the world); ~ forth (oute); ~ biforen, announce something publicly; ppl. tellinge, proclaiming; also, as noun: the one proclaiming; the one who proclaims (peace); (b) ~ forth on english, to translate aloud in English (what a sermon being preached in another language means); (c) to extol (sth.), praise; (d) to boast (of sth.); make (boasting speeches).

(a) To give a description, describe; speak descriptively (of sb. or sth.); give a description (of sb. or sth. to sb.); (b) to describe (sth., a place, one's state, etc.); describe (sth. to sb.);—also with clause as obj.; ~ fore; ~ word, analyze a word; (c) of an author, a writer, etc.: to write descriptively (about sb. or sth.); describe (sth.) in writing, describe (sth. to sb.) in a text; also, of a book or part of a book: give a description (of sth.); describe (sth., what sth. is); ben to ~ bi, be (fair and bold) to describe; (d) ben tolde, to be named or called (a specified name); (e) in expressions and rhetorical questions expressing the indescribable nature of something: ich ne can ~, mai no tonge ~, more than mannes mouth mai ~, etc.

(a) To express (an opinion, one's will, one's emotional pain, etc.); express (to sb. one's desire); also, utter (a complaint); (b) to confess; also, make confession of one's sins to a confessor; confess (guilt, sins, etc.); ~ oute.

(a) To tell (the truth) in speech or writing; ~ here sothes, tell (some individuals) the truth about themselves; ~ whi the soth, tell why something is true; that ich have tolde is treuth, what I have told is the truth; (b) in parenthetical or emphatic expressions asserting the veracity of what is stated: to ~ the soth, soth (sothli) for to ~, gostli (treuli) to ~; ich telle the for soth (treuth); etc.; (c) to maintain something as fact; claim (sth.) as true, assert (sth.); also, with that clause: claim (that sth. is so, etc.); ppl. tolde as adj.: asserted; (d) to lie; tell (a lie, lies); ~ a tale (tales), tell a falsehood (untruths); ~ queintlie, lie craftily; also, in nickname: telle-me-no-tales [quot. c1400].

(a) To give orders in speech or writing, issue a command; direct (sb.) to do something; enjoin (sth. on sb.); order (that sb. do sth.), bid (persons that they do sth.); ~ oute; also, in emphatic expression reinforcing a direct command: leie hit..ich the telle, lay it..I tell thee; (b) of God: to decree; enjoin (sth.); ~ to, of the Apostle Paul, the gospel: enjoin upon (sb.); (c) to urge in speech; urge (sb. that sth. be done); of a writer: recommend (medicines to sb.) in a text; (d) to advise in speech, counsel; counsel (sb.); give (advice); give (sb. counsel); also, with clause: advise (sb. how sth. should be done, that sth. be done); propose (sth.), suggest [quot. c1400]; of a writer: tell (sb. a rule to follow) in a text; ~ tale, give (sb.) advice.

(a) To preach; preach about (Christ, the Resurrection, repentance, etc.); preach (the gospel, God's word, virtue, etc.); ~ oute; that tolde, that which was preached; (b) to pray (to Jesus); say (a prayer); give (thanks to God); (c) to sing (a hymn); chant or recite (psalms, scriptural verses); also, quote (Holy Writ); cite (a rule for Christians); ~ oute.

(a) To prophesy, foretell, predict; also, prophesy (to sb.); ~ biforen; ~ o (of), foretell of (sth.), predict (sth.); (b) to prophesy (sth.) in speech or writing, foretell, predict; foretell (sth. to sb.); ~ afore (biforen); ~ prophecie, utter a prophecy; ben tolde in the olde laue (with prophecie), of Christ: be foretold in the old law (in prophecy); impers. as tolde is er, as is foretold; (c) to warn (sb.); warn (sb. of sth.); with inf. or that clause: admonish (sb. to do sth.), warn (sb. that sth. is so); (d) to promise (sth. to sb.), vow; with inf.: promise (to do sth.); (e) to betoken (that sb. will be sth.), signify.

(a) To report; also, spread reports [quot. a1425]; ~ ayen, make report [transl. of L renuntiare]; (b) to report (sth.), deliver (a message), relay (information); report (sth. to sb.); with clause: report (what word sb. sent); report (to sb. that sth. is so, how sb. did sth., etc.); ~ ayen, report (sth.) [transl. of L renuntiare]; impers. hit is tolde, it is reported; it is reported (to sb. that sth. is so, how sth. happened); hit was tolde him of, it was reported to him concerning (sth.); (c) to tell (tidings); bring (sb. news); ~ tidinge(s; ~ token, deliver (to sb.) a verbal message serving as a sign; telle hit for no tidinges, do not tell it as if it were news; (d) to repeat (sth., someone's words); repeat (sth. to sb.); ~ forth (on); (e) heren (iheren) ~, to hear tell, hear reported; hear (sth.) reported, learn about (sth.) by report, hear talk of (sth.); also, with clause: hear tell (that sth. happened, whether sth. is true, etc.); heren (iheren) ~ of, heren tolde of, hear report of (sb. or sth.), hear tell of; also, hear rumors about (sb. or sth.); heren ~ of this tidinge, hear about this news.