tell

I. verb (told; telling) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English tellan; akin to Old High German zellen to count, tell, Old English talu tale Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. count, enumerate <

tell the stars, if thou be able to number them — Genesis 15:5(Authorized Version)

> 2. a. to relate in detail ; narrate <

told the whole story to us

> b. to give utterance to ; say <

could never tell a lie

> 3. a. to make known ; divulge, reveal <

don't tell your password

> b. to express in words <

she never told her love — Shakespeare

> 4. a. to give information to ; inform <

tell us about your job

> b. to assure emphatically <

they did not do it, I tell you

> 5. order, direct <

told me to wait

> 6. to find out by observing ; recognize <

you can tell it's a masterpiece

> intransitive verb 1. to give an account <

an article telling of her experience

> 2. to act as an informer — often used with on <

I'll get even with you if you ever tell on me — Inside Detective

> 3. to have a marked effect <

the pressure was beginning to tell on him

> 4. to serve as evidence or indication Synonyms: see reveal II. noun Etymology: Arabic tall Date: 1864 hill, mound; specifically an ancient mound in the Middle East composed of remains of successive settlements