TALE definition

Typed Applicative Language Experiment. M. van Leeuwen. Lazy, purely applicative, polymorphic. Based on typed second order lambda-calculus. "Functional Programming and the Language TALE", H.P. Barendregt et al, in Current Trends in Concurrency, LNCS 224, Springer 1986, pp.122-207.

(03 Feb 2009)

1. That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any rehearsal of what has occured; narrative; discourse; statement; history; story. "The tale of Troy divine." . "In such manner rime is Dante's tale." . "We spend our years as a tale that is told." (Ps. Xc. 9)

2. A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an enumeration; a count, in distinction from measure or weight; a number reckoned or stated. "The ignorant, . . . Who measure by tale, and not by weight." (Hooker) "And every shepherd tells his tale, Under the hawthornn in the dale." (Milton) "In packing, they keep a just tale of the number." (Carew)

3. A count or declaration. To tell tale of, to make account of. "Therefore little tale hath he told Of any dream, so holy was his heart." (Chaucer)

Synonyms: Anecdote, story, fable, incident, memoir, relation, account, legend, narrative.

Origin: AS. Talu number, speech, narrative; akin to D. Taal speech, language, G. Zahl number, OHG. Zala, Icel. Tal, tala, number, speech, Sw. Tal, Dan. Tal number, tale speech, Goth. Talzjan to instruct. Cf. Tell, Toll a tax, also Talk.

(01 Mar 1998)