par|ley

par|ley «PAHR lee», noun, plural -leys, verb, -leyed, -ley|ing.

–n.

1. a conference or talk to discuss terms or matters in dispute: »

The Administration's position is that a conference of the Big Four foreign ministers should precede any parley “at the summit” (New York Times).

2. an informal discussion with an enemy during a truce, as about terms of surrender, exchange of prisoners, supplies, or medical care: »

The general held a parley with the enemy about exchanging prisoners.

–v.i.

1. to discuss terms, especially with an enemy: »

We arm to parley (Sir Winston Churchill).

2. Archaic. to speak; talk: »

The housemaids parley at the gate, The scullions on the stair (Oliver Wendell Holmes).

╂[< Old French parlee < feminine past participle of parler to speak < Late Latin parabolāre < Latin parabola parable]