I. ˈpärlē, ˈpȧl-, -li verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French parler to speak, talk, from Medieval Latin parabolare, from Late Latin parabola speech, parable — more at parable
transitive verb
1. : utter ; especially : speak 3
that Yank can't half parley the lingo — Richard Llewellyn
2. archaic : to grant a parley to : hold a conference or discussion with : address
intransitive verb
: to speak with another : confer
the Russian delegations … refused to parley with any Korean parties other than the Leftist — Current Biography
specifically : to hold a parley with or as if with an enemy
the … government was forced to parley with the rebels — Richard Harrington
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a conference held usually for the discussion of points in dispute
the plan of the State Department to sponsor regional parleys for its missions throughout the world — Current Biography
other parleys were scheduled Thursday and Friday with the … electrical workers — Retailing Daily
b. : an oral and usually informal conference with an enemy under a truce (as for the discussion of armistice terms or an exchange of prisoners)
details of battle, parley , and further battle — G.B.Saul
willingness to resume the cease-fire parleys — Current Biography
2. : mutual discourse : conversation , discussion
without further parley she proceeded in the direction indicated — Joseph Hergesheimer
holding long and interesting parley with these worthies — Strand Magazine