Tell v.

Pa. t. and pple. told. Forms: see below. [OE. tęllan, pa. t. tealde, pa. pple. (ʓe)teald, cognate with OFris. talja, tella, OS. tęlljan (talda, gitald), senses as in OE.; MLG., MDu., LG., Du. tellen to count, reckon, etc., OHG. *zęlljan, zęllen (zalta, gizalt), senses as in OE. (MHG. zęln, Ger. zählen to reckon, count), ON. tęlja to tell, relate, say, count, speak, Sw. tälja, Da. tælle to count, number, reckon; all:—OTeut. *taljan, f. *talā, OE. talu, TALE sb. OE. had also a pa. pple. ʓetęled (in poetry, Beda, Orosius, Lindisf. and Rushw. Gl.); Anglian had pres. t. tęlest, tęleð, and pa. t. and pple. talde, ʓetald (Vesp. Ps.), whence ME. tāld, and tōld. Tealde remained in Early ME. in southern dialects. The later dial. telld, tell’d, telt is a new formation from tell: cf. the forms of SELL v.]

  A.  Illustration of Inflexional Forms.

  1.  Present stem. Inf. OE. tellan, ME. telle(n, tel (4–7), Mod.E. tell.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., vii. § 3. Ute nu tellan. Ibid., xviii. § 3. Tele nu þa lengu.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xi. 16. Hwam telle ic.

a. 1090, c. 1175.  Telle [see B. 2, 1].

c. 1200.  Ormin, 9500. Crist … wrohhte wundre miccle ma Þann icc ȝuw maȝȝ nu tellenn.

c. 1250.  Kentish Serm., in O. E. Misc., 27. Þet us telþ þet holi godespel.

13[?].  Cursor M., 96. Inogh to tell. Ibid., 10913 (Cott.). Wat þou quat for soth i tell [Gött. talle]? Ibid., 11477. Cums again and tels me.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, x. (Mathou), 30. I thinke to tel here why [etc.].

c. 1386, c. 1440.  Telle [see B. 1].

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. viii. (heading). Evander telland Eneas thingis seir.

a. 1592.  Greene, Vision, Wks. (Grosart), XII. 200. Thus to tellen all the truth, He infected Romes youth.

1632.  Tel [see B. 3 (b)].

  2.  Pa. t. α. 1–4 tealde (1 telede), 3 tælde, 4 teelde.

c. 888, c. 1000.  Tealde [see B. 1].

a. 1000.  Andreas, 1105 (Gr.). Hi … hluton … teledon.

c. 1205.  Lay., 13181. Þet heo nane manne ne tælden.

c. 1315.  Tealde [see B. 4].

  β.  1, 3–5 talde, 4–6 tald, 5–9 Sc. tauld.

a. 900.  Cynewulf, Elene, 909. Þone ic ær on firenum fæstne talde.

c. 1205.  Lay., 1350. A steores-man ham talde. Ibid., 26884. Al heo talden [c. 1275 tolde] þene wæi.

13[?].  Cursor M., 511. Als i tald [Fairf. talde] ar.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, I. 563. The Cwmyn raid to the king … & tald all this cass.

1567.  Tauld [see B. 17].

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxiv. Only he tauld me about it.

  γ.  3–6 tolde, 4– told. (Also 5 toold, tolled, tolded, 6 tould(e, 8 dial. towd.)

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 3449. Moyses tolde ðis israel.

c. 1340.  He told [see B. 2].

c. 1340.  Hampole, Medit. Passion, Wks. 1895, I. 93. Þou toldist it him biforen.

1418.  Abp. Chichele, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. I. 5. I … toold him owre comun avis.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., 353. Which appering Constantyn toold in greet secretnes to the same Eusebi.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, xliii. 225. Ȝit tolded thow it Neuere to non Man.

1540.  Hyrde, trans. Vives’ Instr. Chr. Wom. (1592), F viij. What hurt should come, Cato tolde before.

1582.  N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. vi. 15 b. All which things the Generall tolde him.

1601.  Told [see B. 5].

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial., 90. He towd Sammy he wor baun et wed wie his Cusin Ann.

  δ.  4 tellde, 4–5 telde, 4–6 teld, 5 tellid, 5–6 -yd, 5–6 (9 dial.) telled, 9 dial. tell’d, 6–9 dial. telt.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 82. Þer men him teld, who was his aduersere.

13[?].  Cursor M., 871 (Gött.). I teld [Cott. tald] þe.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 166. If God tellde him specialy.

1399.  Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 151. Trouthe … telde somme her sothes.

1453.  Agnes Paston, in P. Lett., I. 255. Gurney tellyd hym he had byn at London.

1537.  Latimer, Lett. to Cromwell, 14 Oct., in Rem. (Parker Soc.), 384. I telled him plainly my mind therein.

1554.  Cal. Anc. Rec. Dublin (1889), 436. The sam telt to the wywes.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VI. i. 44. Sir Calidore upcheard, and to her teld All this accord.

1790.  Mrs. Wheeler, Westmld. Dial., 34. I telt Bet I wad drive tea it.

1825.  Brockett, N. C. Words, s.v., Aw tell’d him on’t.

1826.  J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1856, I. 144. Mr. Scroope telt Sir Walter.

  3.  Pa. pple. α. 1–2 (ʓe)teald, 3 teald, 3–4 i-teld, 4 teeld.

c. 1000.  Leg. Rood (1871), 5. Ða þis þam mæran kasere constantine ʓeteald wæs.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 215. Swo ich iteld habbe.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. I. 169. Crist haþ teeld þat þis hiȝe charite techiþ a man to putte his lyf for love of hise frendis.

  β.  3 i-tald, 4 y-tald, taald, 4–8 tald(e, 5 Sc. tallde, 5–9 Sc. tauld, 6 tawld.

c. 1205.  Lay., 12092. Nes hit neowhær itald. Ibid., 22999. Þar nas na cniht wel itald [c. 1275 itold].

13[?].  Cursor M., 3330. Til he þam had his errand tald. Ibid., 8765. Þis tre i haf of forwit taald.

1340.  Y-tald [see B. 1].

1488.  Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 79. Tauld in presence of the Chancellare.

1588.  A. King, trans. Canisius’ Catech., 185. As I haue tauld in tymes past.

1725.  Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. ii. Do you get them tald you in your sleep?

1816.  Scott, Old Mort., xxxviii. I wadna hae tauld ye.

  γ.  3–5 i-told (-e), 3– told. (Also 3–7 tolde, 4–5 toold (5 y-tolte), 6 tould, towld, (tollyd).)

c. 1220.  Bestiary, 758, in O. E. Misc., 24. Ilk der … foleȝen him [the panther] … For ðe swetnesse ðe ic ȝu haue told.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 1634. King aruirag of wan we abbeþ itold. Ibid., 7569. As me aþ er ytold.

1303.  Tolde [see B. 1].

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Sam. iii. 23. So it is toold to Joab of tellers.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), VIII. 149. Rehersed how it was i-told.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 12816. Tithinges hor tolde were.

c. 1420.  Chron. Vilod., 1830. Hit was … To seynt Dunston ysende & by tokon to hym y-tolte.

c. 1430.  Hymns Virg., 37/69. Theise .iij. þat y haue of toold.

1538.  Starkey, England, I. i. 22. A tale tollyd among deffe men.

1584.  in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ., V. 64. Yt was towld him by his cosine.

1586.  Hunsdon, in Border Papers (1894), I. 367. I toulde him of sondrie cawses.

  δ.  4 telld, 4–6 teld, 5–6 (8–9 dial.) telled, 6–9 telt, 8–9 dial. tell’d, Sc. tell’t.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4640 (Gött.). Nou has he Teld me. Ibid., 6752 (Cott.). It sal be slaghter telld o man.

c. 1489.  Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, 174. Nowe have I telled you that that ye have asked me.

1560.  Pilkington, Expos. Aggeus (1562), 13. The thinge is true which is telled.

1596.  Spenser, F. Q., VII. vi. 27. Witnesse, ye Heavens, the truth of all that I have teld.

a. 1818.  in Scott, Hrt. Midl., Introd. In a’ thae wee bits of ways I ha’e tell’t ye.

1824.  Scott, St. Ronan’s, ii. I hae been tell’d by ane that suld ken.

1900.  Telled [see B. 8 b].

  B.  Signification.

  I.  To mention in order, narrate, relate, make known, declare. II. To enumerate, number, count, reckon. III. To reckon, estimate, esteem, account (qualitatively).

  I.  To mention in order, narrate, make known.

  *  trans. To tell things or a thing.

  † 1.  To mention or name (a series of things) one after another in order; to recount, enumerate; to give a list of. Obs.

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxxvii. § 2. Do ðæs lean to ðæm forsprecenan goodum þe ic þe ær tealde on þære þriddan bec.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Hom. (Th.), II. 428. Se sunder-halʓa … He … tealde his godan dæda.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 9. Feole oðre … werke þe nu were long eou to telle.

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 71. Þere we shule tellen alle ure gultes.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 497. Ic wile riȝt tellen, if ic can, Adam, Seth, Enos, Caynan, Malaleel, Iareth, Enoch.

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 12624. Ȝow to withholde Fro þe synnes þat byfore are tolde.

1340.  Ayenb., 24. Alle þise guodes of kende þet ich habbe ssortiliche y-tald.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Can. Yeom. Prol. & T., 246. Arsenyk sal Armonyak and Brymstoon And herbes koude I telle eek many oon.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 152. Out of euyll tunge springeth x. braunchys. Þe v. I telde ȝou þe oþer day, þe oþere v. I schal telle ȝow now.

  2.  To give an account or narrative of (facts, actions, or events); to narrate, relate. (With simple obj. or obj. clause; sometimes with indirect obj. as in 3.) Also to tell over.

c. 1000.  Leg Rood (1871), 5. Hi … tealdon him þa þrowunga þe ure hælend on þære rode ðrowode.

a. 1090.  O. E. Chron., an. 1085. Þeah ic hit lengre telle. Ibid. (a. 1154), an. 1137. I ne can ne i ne mai tellen alle þe wunder.

a. 1225.  Juliana, 40. Þah ich þe talde al dei ne mahte ich þe tellen þe wundres.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 7198. Þo gan he to tellen þis [vision].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 141. Þar neist sal be sythen tald How þat ioseph was boght and sald. Ibid. (c. 1340), 1330 (Gött.). He … told him all þat he had sene.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 105. Þis gospel telliþ furþere how þes Jewis pursueden Crist.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. xiii. 91. It telleth after in the sangraylle that syre Percyualis syster halpe that lady with her blood wherof she was dede.

1526.  Tindale, Acts xv. 12. Barnabas and Paul … tolde what signes and wondres God had shewed.

1671.  Milton, P. R., II. 306. Others of some note, As story tells, have trod this Wilderness.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor. Sat., II. vi. 163. A country mouse, as authors tell, Of old invited to his cell A city mouse.

1779.  Mirror, No. 23, ¶ 5. These [actions] were told to his honour.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xvi. Thou art … a tattling knave to tell over again his fooleries.

1833.  Cruse, Eusebius, VII. xi. 289. After these … he proceeds to tell what happened to him.

c. 1850.  Arab. Nts. (Rtldg.), 552. She then went on with her narrative, and told him in what manner she had obtained an audience.

Mod.  What happened to him there has often been told.

  b.  With the narrative as obj. Now only with tale or story: see 17.

1576.  Gascoigne, Philomene (Arb.), 92. She by whom I meane To tell this woful Tragedie was called Phylomene.

  c.  intr. for pass. To be related with a particular effect; to sound (well, etc.) when told.

1584.  Hudson, Du Bartas’ Judith, in Sylvester (1621), 696. Then, fathers, choose your warres; for better tels To lose like Jewes, then winne like infidels.

1782.  Miss Burney, Cecilia, VI. ii. I had as lieve the things were false as not, for they tell as well the one way as the other.

  3.  To make known by speech or writing; to communicate (information, facts, ideas, news, etc.); to state, announce, report, intimate. Usually const. with indirect obj. (dat.) or to.

  (a)  With the direct object a sb. or pron.

  Examples of the direct passive are included here; for the indirect passive with the person as subj., see 8 b.

c. 1122.  [see (b)].

c. 1200.  Trin. Coll. Hom., 31. Gode tiðinge … us telleð … seinte lucas on þe holie godspelle.

c. 1290.  Beket, 1188, in S. Eng. Leg., I. 140. He … tolde hire al is bouȝt.

13[?].  Cursor M., 4624. I wat þou tells [v.rr. tellis, tellest] it me for noght.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 207. Tel me þe soþe.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 300. Poul telliþ here a rewele þat cristen men shulden holde.

1390.  Gower, Conf., III. 368. Ech his oghne avis Hath told, on that, an other this.

c. 1400.  Brut, lxii. 57. Telle me þe enchesone wherefore I ame to ȝow brouȝt.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, II. iv. (1883), 47. And they told hym the trouthe.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, VIII. iv. (heading). Evander tellis till Enee but baid, The verray caus.

1526.  Tindale, Luke i. 45. Thoose thinges … which were tolde the from the lorde. Ibid., Acts xxvii. 25. I beleve God that so it shalbe even as it was tolde me.

1611.  Bible, Gen. xxiv. 33. I will not eate, vntill I haue tolde mine errand.

1606.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., I. iii. 284. This shall be told our Louers.

1673.  S’ too him Bayes, 23. I’le tell you one piece of my mind.

1746.  Francis, Hor. Epist., I. vi. 74. Let’s buy a Slave to tell each Voter’s Name.

1759.  Johnson, Idler, No. 63, ¶ 6. The studious and ambitious contend … who shall tell their thoughts in the most pleasing manner.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xv. Tell us your mystery of multiplying.

1856.  J. H. Newman, Serm. Var. Occas. (1881), i. 12. Nor, even though it be told to her, can she enter into it.

1896.  Standard, 15 Jan., 7/2. He said much, but told little, at to-day’s meeting.

Mod.  Who told you that?

  (b)  With direct obj. a clause, with or without that.

  In the direct passive the clause usually follows the vb., its place before the vb. being supplied by it (It was told him that, etc.). For the indirect passive, see 8 b.

c. 1122.  O. E. Chron., an. 1046. Þa … Sweʓen … tealde þæt his sciperes woldon wændon fram him buton he þe raðor come.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 5357. Þou ssalt þi wille abide as ich þe abbe ytold here.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4843. Tells me quat kin man yur fader be.

c. 1380.  [see A. 3 α].

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 203. I teld ȝou þat a schouyl hath iij. partys: a scho, an heued, & an handyl.

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 1506. Now I will rin, but rest, And tell that all is ready.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xxiii. 7. Then was it tolde Saul that Dauid was come to Cegila.

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 90 b. He tolde to the other playnely that … he would take from him the wardshyp of his nephewe.

1611.  Bible, Acts xxiii. 30. When it was tolde me, how that the Iewes laid waite for the man.

1632.  Sanderson, Serm., 6. Yet Salomon tels us, the poore mans wisdome is despised.

1681–6.  J. Scott, Chr. Life (1747), III. 523. Our Saviour himself tells us, that the Father judgeth no Man.

1790.  Burns, Tam O’Shanter, 19. She tauld thee weel thou was a skellum.

1833.  T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. v. And I say, Charles, tell her we are coming to coffee forthwith.

1838.  Longfellow, Ps. Life, 1.

1908.  R. Bagot, A. Cuthbert, xxviii. 367. There had always been something mysterious about Anthony Cuthbert, the doctor told himself.

Mod.  It was told me that you had been inquiring about me.

  b.  To declare, state formally or publicly; to announce, proclaim, publish. Also fig.

  Tell it not in Gath, (from 2 Sam. i. 20), publish it not to the enemy, or to the Philistine, or to the world.

a. 1300.  E. E. Psalter xviii. [xix.] 1. Heuens telles goddis blisse.

a. 1325.  Prose Psalter, xlix. 7 [l. 6]. Pe heuens shul tellen his riȝtfulnes. Ibid., l. 16 [li. 15]. My mouþe shall tellen þyn heryyng.

1382.  Wyclif, 2 Sam. i. 20. Woleth ȝe not telle in Geth, ne telle ȝe in … Aschalon. Ibid. (1382), Acts xvii. 18. He [Paul] telde to hem Jhesu and aȝen rysing.

1535.  Coverdale, Ps. xcv[i]. 10. Tell it out amonge the Heithen, that the Lorde is kynge.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., I. ii. 126. No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day But the great Cannon to the Clowds shall tell.

1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., II. xxxviii. (1674), 190. The Master of the Colledge, told in the name of the whole Senate, That [etc.].

c. 1795.  Cowper, Needless Alarm, 34. Ere yet with ruthless joy the happy bound Told hill and dale that Reynard’s track was found.

1819.  Keats, Isabella, X. xix. Many a chapel bell the hour is telling.

1904.  Marie Corelli, God’s Gd. Man, xx. The fact is—but tell it not in Gath—I was happier without them!

  c.  fig. To make known or indicate as if by language; to bespeak.

1809.  Heber, Poems, Europe, 29. May those bleak summits tell The field of Anger where the mighty fell.

1827.  Clare, Sheph. Cal., 148. I care not what this foolish trifling tells.

  4.  To utter (words); to say over, recite (a passage, composition, etc.); to say. Now dial.

c. 1315.  Shoreham, iii. 120. Many man … hym ne douteþ of no breche Of godes hestes healde [= old]; Ac he not nefer wat hy beeþ, Ne neuer hy ne tealde.

1382.  Wyclif, Ps. cxviii. [cxix.] 171. My lippis shuln tellen out an impne.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 107. It semeth that a belle Lik to the wordes that men telle Answerth riht.

1567.  Gude & Godlie B. (S. T. S.), 201. His [the Pope’s] numerat Aueis, and Psalmes tauld.

1573–80.  Baret, Alv., T 105. To tell by heart, recito.

a. 1653.  Binning, Serm. (1845), 445. You use to tell over some words in your prayers.

1841.  Helps, Ess., Self-Discipline (1875), 21. To think that a man can find nothing better to do, in the presence of his Creator, than telling off so many words!

1880.  Cornwall Gloss., s.v., Can you tell your lessons?

1884.  Augusta J. E. Wilson, Vashti, vii. (U. S.). ‘Did Ulpian tell you good-bye?’ ‘No, I have not seen him.’

  b.  To utter, speak, say (things).

1377.  Langl., P. Pl., B. V. 408. Ȝif I bidde any bedes … Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myne herte.

1535.  Coverdale, Ecclus. xxi. 25. The lippes of the vnwyse wylbe tellynge foolish thinges.

1628.  Hobbes, Thucyd. (1822), 79. Many prophecies were told and many sung by the priests of the oracles.

1715–20.  Pope, Iliad, IX. 412. Who dares think one thing, and another tell, My heart detests him as the gates of hell.

1787.  Burns, Birthday Ode, 47. Till all the frighted echoes tell The blood-notes of the chase!

1888.  Elworthy, W. Som. Gloss., s.v., Don’t tell up such stuff.

  c.  To express in words (thoughts, things known).

c. 1200.  Moral Ode, 285. Ne mai non heorte it þenche, ne no tunge ne can telle.

c. 1250.  Death, 57 in O. E. Misc., 172. Ne miȝte no tunge tellen Þat euer wes iboren Þe stronge pine of helle.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 96 (Cott.). Qua sa will of hyr fayrnes spell, Find he sal inogh to tell.

c. 1430.  Freemasonry, 664. The vertu therof no mon telle may.

1650.  Cromwell, Lett., 12 Sept., in Carlyle. Which speaking the instructed, the edified and comforted can best tell the energy and effect of.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 82. Let me tell you the pleasure which I feel in hearing of your fame.

  d.  To tell out, away (dial.): to drive away (pain, etc.) by uttering incantations.

1822.  Hibbert, Shetl. Isl. (1891), 272 (E.D.D.). The religious charmer of Shetland would mutter some words over water,… and limbs were washed with it, for the purpose of telling out pains.

1869.  Reid, Art Rambles in Shetl., 35. Papa Stourians believed that the beadle of the kirk had the power of ‘telling’ the sparrows away so as never to return.

1879.  Low, Tour Ork. & Shetl., 203. When she was a child … she has heard from others that a pain or a stitch has been telled out in that manner.

  5.  To disclose or reveal (something secret or private); to divulge. To tell tales: see TALE sb. 3 c.

a. 1400.  Pistill of Susan, 141. We schal telle trewely We toke þe wiþ a-voutri.

1445.  trans. Claudian, in Anglia, XXVIII. 277. Thise goddis the telle þin enemyes sleightes, and lede to þe couchis of fraude.

1601.  Shaks., Twel. N., II. iv. 113. She neuer told her loue.

1615.  G. Sandys, Trav., 72. Many there are that undertake to tell fortunes.

1819.  Keats, Isabella, v. I may not speak, And yet I will, and tell my love all plain.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xviii. She told no more of her thoughts now than she had before.

  † b.  To reveal (something future); to foretell, predict.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 776. Tokne of þat turment tolde ȝoure eldren.

13[?].  Cursor M., 9265 (Fairf.). Crist was talde wiþ prophecy.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Serm., Sel. Wks. II. 2. Þis Gospel of Mark bigynneþ how Crist was teld in þe olde lawe.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 200. Alle þe sawis of þaire Syre as Siraphis tald Þare gan þai graithly þam graue.

[1884.  trans. Lotze’s Logic, 303. No perception can tell us the future with the present.]

  † 6.  To pray for, beg, ask. Obs. rare.

1393.  Langl., P. Pl., C. VIII. 298. Ich praye ȝow, peers, paraunter yf ȝe meteþ Treuthe, telleþ to hym þat ich be excused.

14[?].  Trentalle St. Gregorii, in Tundale’s Vis. (1843), 79. God moder my dere dame … Of Gode to tell mercy thou gine.

14[?].  Lybeaus Disc., 1755. To the castell he rod,… To Jhesu bad and tolde, To sende hym tydynge glad.

  7.  To discern so as to be able to say with knowledge or certainty; hence, to distinguish, recognize, decide, determine.

1687.  A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 142. It is hard to tell whether it be a Horse or an Elephant.

1746.  Francis, trans. Hor. Sat., II. iv. 58. None before me so sapient to engage To tell the various nature, or the age Of fish and fowl.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xiii. 29. They can be told by their complexions, dress, manner, and also by their speech.

1883.  Gilmour, Mongols, xvi. 195. An ordinary man of common intelligence can tell a wall raised by … a competent builder from the attempted imitation of a bungling amateur.

1899.  A. Birrell, in Daily News, 4 Nov., 3/2. Is it possible to tell a good book from a bad one?

1909.  A. T. Robertson, Epochs Life Paul, viii. 167. In II Thess. 2:2 Paul warns his readers against forgeries, and in 3:17 tells them how to tell a genuine letter of his.

  b.  Preceded by can: To be able to state; to know; to discern, perceive, make out, understand. Usually in negative or interrogative sentences, as Nobody can tell, Who can tell? Cf. SAY v.¹ 6 b.

1370[?].  Robt. Cicyle, 244. Wher such cloþ was to selle, Ne ho hit made, couþe noman telle.

a. 1400–50.  Alexander, 248. Þai can swyth of a sweuyn all þe swepe tell.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xii. 353. No man can telle who wroot it.

1526.  Tindale, John xvi. 18. We cannot tell what he saith [Gr. οὐκ οἴδαμεν τί λαλεῖ: R. V. 1881 We know not what he saith].

1553.  T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 160. Neither can he otherwise chuse but stumble: that gropyng in the darcke can not tell where he is.

1783.  Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 23 July. Whether this short rustication has done me any good I cannot tell.

1838.  Arnold, Hist. Rome (1848), I. 99. Nor can any one tell at what time they attained to their present shape.

1873.  Mrs. Oliphant, Innocent, II. 231. It was … a dog-cart … he could tell as much by the sound.

1888.  ‘J. S. Winter,’ Bootle’s Childr., vi. Jane doesn’t seem to like it—I can’t tell why.

  **  trans. To tell a person (the originally indirect or dative personal object becoming the direct).

  Some uses, as 9, hover between * and **.

  8.  To inform (a person) of something; to make aware, apprise, acquaint; to instruct. Also colloq. and dial. To direct the attention of (a person) to a fault or the like by way of admonition. Const. of, about; also so (representing that, or an object clause, and thus coming very near 3 a (a, b).

c. 1205.  Lay., 12946. Ic þe wulle tællen Of uncuðe spællen.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 322. Of þe maumet hii tolde brut þat hii fonde þere. Ibid., 3510. Me tolde him of a gret duc þat het theldryk.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 11393 (Cott.). Vs telles alsua iohn … or a folk ferr and first vncuth.

c. 1440.  Jacob’s Well, 152. The oþer day, I told ȝow of þe wose of glotonye.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, I. 263. He tald his modyr of his sodane cas.

1573–80.  Baret, Alv., T 108. He shewed me, or tolde me of my fault.

1713.  Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., iii. Moses tells us of a creation.

Mod.  Sit down and tell us about it.

c. 1412.  Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 717. I tolde hym so; & euer he seyde nay.

1609.  B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. ii. I told you so, sir, and you would not beleeue me.

Mod.  They told us so at the station.

  b.  The passive is not only used with the const. of, about, but is often substituted for that of sense 3 (a), as in he was told the truth, we were not told the reason; and now usually for that of 3 (b), as I was told that you were coming.

1600.  Shaks., A. Y. L., III. ii. 361. I haue bin told so of many. Ibid. (1607), Timon, IV. iii. 214. Thou wast told thus. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T. II. ii. 31. He must be told on’t, and he shall.

1781.  Cowper, Expost., 66. Pleasure is deaf when told of future pain.

1821.  Scott, Kenilw., xxxvi. Wherefore was I not told of all this?

1898.  Mrs. H. Ward, Helbeck, I. v. 101 An he’s that masterful he woan’t be towd.

1900.  H. Sutcliffe, Shameless Wayne, xiii. 170. He’s getten a peffing cough…, but he willun’t be telled.

Mod.  Has any one been told about it?

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., III. vii. 113. I was told that, by one that knowes him. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, V. iv. 96. I was told, you were in a consumption.

1863.  Kingsley, Lett. (1878), II. 149. When I am told that the Lancashire system is perfect.

1895.  Kay, in Law Times Rep., LXXIII. 623/1. He asked if his wife was there, and being told she was not, he … left the lodge.

  9.  To assert positively to; to assure (a person). Often parenthetically in expressions of emphasis.

c. 1440.  York Myst., xxx. 452. This touches no tresoune, I telle you.

1526.  Tindale, Luke xii. 59. I tell the thou departest not thence, tyll thou have made goode the vtmose farthynge.

a. 1596.  Sir T. More, I. i. 110. And he is in a good forwardnesse, I telle ye, if all hit right.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 480, ¶ 3. Give me leave to tell you, Sir, this is the reason.

1732.  Berkeley, Alciphr., IV. § 2. Let me tell you I am not to be persuaded by metaphysical arguments.

1817.  T. L. Peacock, Melincourt, vii. Very orthodox old wine in the cellar, I can tell you.

1905.  F. Young, Sands Pleas., I. iii. I tell you, it got on my nerves.

  10.  To order or direct (a person) to do something; to bid, to request authoritatively.

1599.  B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., II. i. Place your mirror in your hat, as I told you. [In passive, as you were told.]

1693.  R. Lyde, Retaking Ship called Friend’s Adventure, 10. I told him to knock down that Man at the Helm.

1750.  Apol. Life Bampfylde-M. Carew (1765), 238. Sir William then ordered him to go to his House and tell the Butler to see him well entertain’d.

1879.  T. L. Cuyler, Pointed Papers, 19. Christ nowhere tells sinners to wait for revivals.

1891.  Miss Dowie, Girl in Karp., 19. I told the man to go on. [In passive, The man was told to go on.]

1899.  Kipling, Stalky, i. 15. Tell the Sergeant to keep his eye open.

  † 11.  To direct (a person) to a place: cf. TEACH v. 3. Obs. rare.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, XVI. x. 678. Canst thow telle me vnto somme chappel where that I may burye this body?

  ***  Intransitive uses.

  12.  To give an account, description, or report. Const. of, about. (intr. of 1 and 2.)

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 2139. Begine we now to tell at sem And siþen of his bern-tem. Ibid., 4238. Leue we now iacob in þis care To tell of ioseph and his fare.

c. 1440.  Alphabet of Tales, 164. Seneca tellis of a philosophur þat hight Pictagoricus.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., I. v. 26. What art thou, that telst of Nephews kilt?

1696.  S. Young, Vind. Anti-Baxter., 26. The time would fail me to tell of King John, King Edward II. Richard the III., who when Deposed, thanked them who made his Son (not another) King before his Eyes.

1738.  Gray, Propertius, III. 59. Sailors to tell of Winds and Seas delight.

1812.  Crabbe, Tales, I. 510. He told of bloody fights.

1830.  Scott, Hrt. Midl., vi., note. A near relation of the Author’s used to tell of having been stopped by the rioters, and escorted home in the manner described.

  † 13.  To make a statement, communication, or announcement; to speak, discourse. Obs. (intr. of 3.)

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., vii. § 3. Ute nu tellan beforan swilcum deman swilce þu wille.

13[?].  Seuyn Sag. (W.), 1228. ‘Sei on dame!’ and sche bigan To tellen als a fals wimman.

1382.  Wyclif, Isa. vii. 2. And thei tolden to the hous of Dauid, seiende, Siria rested vp on Effraym.

c. 1450.  Merlin, i. 21. I pray the … tellith to Blase my moders confessour.

1535.  Lyndesay, Satyre, 2154. Tell on. Ar ȝe content?

1558.  Phaer, Æneid., II. C iij b. They … fixt with eies ententiue did behold, Whan Lord Æneas … from hie bench thus he told.

  14.  fig. To give evidence, be an indication of. (intr. of 3 c.)

1798.  Coleridge, Anc. Mar., VII. x. All was still, save that the hill Was telling of the sound.

1833.  Ht. Martineau, Briery Creek, v. There was so little that told of delusion in the calm simplicity of the doctor’s countenance.

1837.  Mrs. Sarah A. Downer, Triumph of Truth, 20. The deadly paleness of his countenance told of the internal struggles he endured.

1853.  Kingsley, Hypatia, i. His hard hands and sinewy sunburnt limbs told of labour and endurance.

1873.  Tristram, Moab, vi. 111. Blocks of basalt … telling of a still more ancient Moabite city.

  15.  To speak, talk, converse, gossip. Cf. TALE v. 6. Now dial. (intr. of 4.)

a. 1652.  Brome, Damoiselle, I. i. Wks. 1873, I. 385. At his Inne in Holborne Telling a little with the Host.

1888.  Elworthy, W. Somerset Gloss., s.v., I zeed ’em tellin’ together … the night avore.

1892.  Sarah Hewett, Peasant Sp. Devon, 21. ’E’s behind telling tu Mr. Baker.

  16.  To disclose something wished to be kept secret; to play the informer, inform, tell tales, blab. Const. on, of a person). (intr. of 5.)

1539.  Bible (Great), 1 Sam. xxvii. 11. Dauid saued nether man nor woman alyue … for feare (sayeth he) leste they shuld telle on vs.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, xi. I ask no questions—no man bound to tell on himsell.

1835.  Marryat, Jac. Faithf., xxxiii. I had resolved to tell, and did so, narrating distinctly the circumstances by which the money had been obtained.

1860.  Geo. Eliot, Mill on Fl., I. v. He didn’t want to ‘tell’ of Maggie.

1897.  ‘Tivoli’ (H. W. Bleakley), Short Innings, xiv. Oh, I’ll not tell if you don’t want me to.

1897.  C. M. Campbell, Deilie Jock, 1. 16 Bobe … used to get mair than his fair share o’ the lawse as it was, without my tellin’ on him.

1903.  W. Buckley, Croppies Lie Down, xxiv. 329. She told on him to Father Murphy, but the Devil, who will have his soul, gave him such strength that he downfaced her.

  ****  Phrases and locutions.

  17.  To tell a tale, to relate a story or narrative; to tell one’s tale, to relate one’s story; also, to say what one has to tell, to deliver one’s message: see TALE sb. 3.

c. 1275.  Passion, 1, in O. E. Misc., 37. One lutele tale, þat ich eu wille telle.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 792. That ech of yow to shorte with oure weye In this viage shal telle tales tweye.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, I. xvii. 19. Þou art called to suffre & to labore, not to be idel & telle tales.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 199 b. The erle had not halfe tolde his tale.

1549.  Compl. Scot., vi. 63. I thynk it best that euyrie ane of vs tel ane gude tayl or fabil, to pas the tyme quhil euyn…. Than the eldest scheiphird began, and al the laif follouit, ane be ane in ther auen place.

1567.  Satir. Poems Reform., vii. 4. Eich of thame his taill in ordoure tauld.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., IV. i. 276. When the tale is told, bid her be iudge.

1601.  Weever, Mirr. Mart., iv. One tale is good, untill another’s told.

1613.  Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 208. A great part of the day after they sit at Cardes, or telling of Tales.

1875.  Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 366. My tale is one which many a man would be afraid to tell.

  In the passage 1632, Milton, L’Allegro, 67, ‘And every Shepherd tells his tale Under the Hawthorn in the dale,’ tells his tale probably belongs here, though some modern editors refer it to sense 21, taking it as ‘counts his number or sum (i.e., of sheep)’; but no instance has been found before the 19th c., of ‘tell his (or a) tale’ in a numerical sense: while the expression in its ordinary sense has been common since the 13th century. Cf. also quot. 1549 for the telling of tales by each shepherd in turn, and see the whole passage, also the context of quot. 1613 in sense 21, where ‘underneath a hawthorn’ appears as the place of the shepherds’ recreation.

  b.  To tell tales: see TALE sb. 3 c.

  c.  So to tell a story: see STORY.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 154 Me schal … tellen ou þeos storic, uor hit were to long to writen ham here.

1590.  Shaks., Com. Err., I. i. 121. To tell sad stories of my owne mishaps.

1681.  Dryden, Span. Friar, IV. ii. Before I tell my fatal story out.

1798.  Ferriar, Illustr. Sterne, ii. 45. Another of his speakers tells the following story.

1840.  W. H. Mill, Observ., etc., I. 114. The experience and history of mankind tells, uniformly, a different story from this.

1841.  Lane, Arab. Nts., I. 97. This is not a time for telling stories, when I am in this prison.

1871.  Julie, P. Smith, Widower, II. xx. 262. Some folks is so peculiar they can’t never tell a yarn without addin’ to’t.

  18.  To tell (the) truth († sooth), to make a true statement; to state or report the fact or circumstance as it really is. Also used parenthetically (to tell the truth, truth to tell, etc.) to emphasize a statement: cf. SAY v.¹ B. 7. So to tell a lie (a falsehood, an untruth), to make a willfully false statement or report. (See also the sbs. SOOTH, TRUTH, LIE, etc.)

c. 1350.  Will. Palerne, 34. Soþ forto telle, al his cler colour comsed forto fade. Ibid., 160. But trewþe for to telle whan time come of daye [etc.].

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 2338. I shall telle you the trewthe how me tyde euyn.

1536.  Cheke, Rem. Sedition, B ij. All thynges telle truthe but man.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., II. i. 58. Tell truth, and shame the Deuill.

1596–.  [see LIE sb.¹ 1].

1764.  Gray, J. Twitcher, 27. The prophet of Bethel, we read, told a lie.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, lii. It was not the habit of this dear creature to tell falsehoods, except when necessity compelled.

1855.  H. Rogers, Ess., II. vii. 323. Sooth to teli, the narrative of the achievements … draws largely on our faith.

  19.  To hear tell († told); usually const. of: see HEAR v. 3 c. Now chiefly dial. and colloq.

c. 1220.  Herd told, 1297 Hurde tell [see HEAR v. 3 c].

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 101. I haf herd told of þis duke Roberd.

1375.  Barbour, Bruce, II. 46. That Ik herd neuir in Romanys tell.

c. 1400.  Melayne, 47. That Charls was thare he herde telle.

1545.  Ascham, Toxoph., I. (Arb.), 100. Was never sene nor hard tel on yet.

1589, 1603, 1861, 1892.  [see HEAR v. 3 c].

1886.  Stevenson, Kidnapped, ii. 9. I asked him if he had ever heard tell of a house they called the house of Shaws.

1911.  Alice C. Thompson, Katie’s New Hat, 4. It’s the first I’ve heard tell of it.

  20.  In various colloquial expressions:

  Never tell me, don’t tell me, expressing incredulity or impatience. Do tell! (U. S., New Engl.), an exclamation of surprise, = ‘is it possible?’ ’you don’t say so!’ I’ll tell you what = ‘I’ll tell you what it is,’ or ‘I’ll tell you something.’ To tell any one his own: to tell him frankly of his faults.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., I. i. 1. Neuer tell me, I take it much vnkindly.

1764.  Foote, Patron, III. Wks. 1799, I. 356. Not to be spoke with! Don’t tell me, Sir; he must, he shall.

1848.  J. H. Newman, Loss & Gain, III. ix. (1904), 323. Error of judgment! don’t tell me. I know how these things happen quite well.

1860.  Bartlett, Dict. Amer., s.v. Do, The dairy-maid after hearing the story through, exclaimed, Do tell!

1917.  Margaret Widdemer, Winona of Camp Karonya, 230. ‘Do tell!’ he said.

1596.  Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. i. 51. My Lord: Ile tell you what, if my yong Lord your Sonne, haue not the day [etc.].

1877.  Tennyson, Harold, I. ii. I’ll tell thee what, my child; Thou hast misread this merry dream of thine.

1897.  Violet Hunt, Unkist, Unkind, ii. I tell you what, Janet, we must have a man down who doesn’t shoot—to amuse us!

1519.  Horman, Vulg., 61. I shall tell hym his owne, in a lytell byll of myne owne hande.

1865.  R. Hunt, Pop Rom. W. Eng., Ser. II. 182. Every one is humorously ‘told their own,’ without offence being taken.

  II.  To mention numerically, to count, reckon.

  21.  trans. To mention or name (the single members of a series or group) one by one, specifying them as one, two, three, etc.; hence, to ascertain from the number of the last how many there are in the whole series; to enumerate, reckon in; to reckon up, count, number. Also absol. Now arch. or dial.

c. 1000.  Ælfric (Heptat.), Gen. xv. 5. Telle þas steorran. Ibid., Num. iii. 15, 16. Telle ælcne wepnedman … Moises þa tealde.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 87. Fram þan halie hester dei boð italde fifti daȝa to þisse deie.

c. 1200.  Ormin, 4550. & whase wile tellenn hemm Bi tale he findeþþ ehhte.

c. 1205.  Lay., 24377. To tellen þat folc of Kairliun Ne mihte hit na mon idon.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 13302 (Cott.). Tuelue þai war to tell in tale.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VIII. xxi. (Bodl. MS.). He knowithe how many þei bene þat nombreþ and telleþ þe sterres.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 143/2. He tolde atte table syttyng xiii poure pylgryms.

1523.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 30. Lei hym goo to the ende of his lande, and begynne and tell .ix. sheues, and let hym caste out the .x. shefe in the name of god.

1535.  Coverdale, 1 Sam. xiv. 17. Tell and se which of vs is gone awaye. And whan they nombred, beholde, Ionathas & his wapen bearer was not there.

1613.  W. Browne, Sheph. Pipe, V. i. Morne bad got the start of night … When the shepheards from the fold All their bleating charges told.

1657.  J. Watts, Vind. Ch. Eng., 43. Every countreyman can tell his Geese, and reckon right.

1719.  De Foe, Crusoe (1850), 236. He could not tell twenty in English, but he numbered them, by laying so many stones in a row, and pointing to me to tell them over.

1748.  J. Mason, Elocut., 24. A Comma stops the Voice while we may privately tell one, a Semi-colon two; a Colon three: and a Period four.

1821.  Clare, Vill. Minstr., II. 31. The shepherd had told all his sheep.

1869.  [see TELLING vbl. sb. 3].

  b.  spec. To count (voters or votes). Also absol. To tell noses, to count heads: see NOSE sb. 6 d.

1511.  in W. H. Turner, Select. Rec. Oxford (1880), 4. Foster desyred off the mayre … to tell the fremen … for thalecc’on off a alderman;… they were men truly told.

1657, a 1734.  [see NOSE sb. 6 d].

1669.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 289. The tellers for the ayes chanced to be very ill reckoners, so that they were forced to tell severall times over.

1731.  Swift, To Gay, 60. Nor think yourself secure in doing wrong By telling noses with a party strong.

1870.  Daily News, 7 May, 2/1. Alter the division Mr. Dodson brought to the knowledge of the Committee the circumstance that he had appointed Sir H. B. a teller, but that that hon. baronet had refused to tell.

1899.  Jrnls. Ho. Comm., 18 May. The House was told by Mr. Speaker, and, 24 members only being present, Mr. Speaker retired from the Chair until four of the clock, when the House was again told.

  c.  Phrases. (a) To tell one’s beads (rosary): see BEAD sb. 2 b; so to tell one’s prayers. † Also allusively to tell tears, to weep (quot. 1588).

1588.  T. L., To Ch. Rome (1651), 18. Thow … canst not goe downe and sit, and tell tears with him.

1641, 1759.  [see BEAD sb. 2 b].

1789.  Mrs. Piozzi, Journ. France, I. 265. I … see nothing but people telling their beads.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xl. Richard … beheld the jovial Friar on his knees, telling his rosary.

1852.  Rock, Ch. of Fathers, III. ix. 326. That noble Anglo-Saxon lady Godiva told her prayers on gems threaded together for that purpose.

1857.  Emerson, Hermione, i. On a mound an Arab lay,… And told his amulets.

1871.  L. Stephen, Playgr. Eur., x. (1894), 250. The women … kneel reverently … whilst they diligently tell their beads.

1914.  Edith Dart, A Sin, 9, in Earth with Her Bars, etc., 53.

  † (b)  To tell the clock, to count the hours as shown by a clock; hence, to pass one’s time idly; cf. tell-clock in TELL-, Obs.

1678.  Butler, Hud., III. III. 577. An old dull Sot, who’d told the Clock For many years at Bridewel-dock.

1738.  trans. Guazzo’s Art Conversation, 14. They are fit for nothing, unless it be to tell the Clock [ed. 1586 count the clock], which they always think goes too slowly.

  (c)  To tell (so many) years: to have lived (so many) years; to be aged (so much). Cf. NUMBER v. 6. Obs. or arch.

1810.  S. Green, Reformist, I. 103. The little girl had not quite told five years.

1818.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Wedding. [She at] nineteen was [married] by her … cousin … who told some few years older.

1835.  Lytton, Rienzi, I. iv. Thou hadst told but thy tenth year.

  (d)  All told: when all are counted; in all.

1850.  Scoresby, Cheever’s Whalem. Adv., ii. (1858), 24. They are four hundred all told.

1850.  A. W. Sumner, Sea Lark, i. 11. Still, the deck of the Sea Lark showed a crew of some sixteen all told.

1858.  J. S. Mansfield in Merc. Marine Mag., V. 19. The hands numbered 19 all told.

1885.  Ld. Wolseley, in Times, 22 Jan., 5/4. Stewart’s force was about 1,500 all told.

  22.  To count out (pieces of money) in payment; hence, to pay (money); now chiefly to tell down, out, into one’s hand, etc. arch. or dial.

c. 1250.  Gen. & Ex., 1993. So michel fe ðor is hem told, He hauen him [Joseph] boȝt, le hauen sold.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4835. We … haue … Al redi penijs for to tell if we moght find her oght to sel.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 270. He [h]is master to þame sald, For thretty pennys to hym talde.

1515.  Scot. Field, 40. They paid him tribute trulie: many told thousands, that the[y] might liue in their land.

1565–73.  Cooper, Thesaurus, s.v. Dinumero, Dinumerare pecuniam, pro Dissoluere, sæpissime accipitur, to pay or tell out money.

1621.  T. Williamson, trans. Goulart’s Wise Vieillard, 84. His promise should passe for ready pay, and for money told on the nayle.

1645.  Rutherford, Tryal & Tri. Faith (1845), 34. Should any buy a field of land, and refuse to tell down the money.

1723.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 37. He told the money into my hand.

1739.  Joe Miller’s Jests, No. 200. The money’d Man fell to telling out the Sum in Shillings.

1819.  Scott, Ivanhoe, xxxiii. Tell down with all speed an hundred crowns.

1893.  W. Raymond, Gentl. Upcott, ii. Biddlecombe drew a bag from his pocket and told the money out in gold.

  fig.  1637.  Shirley, Gamester, IV. ii. Let her tell down Her virgin tears on Delamore’s cold marble.

  b.  To reckon up or calculate the total amount or value of (money or other things); to count. Also to tell out, over. arch.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Luke xiv. 28. Hu ne sytt he ærest & teleð [Lindisf. G. ʓetelles] þa andfengas þe him behefe synt.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 323. We mowe tellen our time whan þe time fallus.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 46. Þei wolen tell gold and money.

1475.  Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.), 85. Forto numbre and telle the quantite and porcion of everie manis part that they broughte.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 160 b. Yf I sholde tell money or carue, wryte, or sowe ony subtyll worke, whiche requireth synglar or specyall study.

1594.  Greene & Lodge, Looking Gl., Wks. (Rtldg.), 121/2. Come, sir, will you dispatch, and tell your money?

1653.  Marvell, Corr., Wks. (Grosart), II. 4. Those who weigh and tell over money.

1723.  De Foe, Col. Jack (1840), 78. What his cargo amounted to I knew not, for I never told it.

1827–35.  Willis, Wife’s Appeal, 99. As a miser tells his gold.

  c.  intr. with refl. or passive sense: To be counted; also to tell for, (up) to: to count as, count for, amount to. Now rare.

1362.  Langl., P. Pl., A. V. 128. Putto hem in a pressour and pinnede hem þer.-Inne Til ten ȝerdes oþer twelue tolden out þrettene.

1774.  Burke, Corr. (1844), I. 488. Lord Verney … has told in parliament, including himself, for four members.

c. 1794.  Susanna Blamire, Poems, Meeting, ii. Our butter tells to fourteen pun’.

1825.  Esther Hewlett, Cottage Comforts, vi. 45. Put it in the savings’ bank, and it will tell up to something.

  d.  To be telling: to be worth or as good as (so much) to; to be to the advantage or credit of (a person). Sc. and north. dial.

1629.  Orkney Witch Trial, in County Folk-lore (1903), III. 79. Haid [she] lettin yow abid with your brother it haid Lene telling hir xl.£.

1822.  Corspatrick of Raymondsholm, II. 8 (Jam.). It wad hae been telling some that are now safe frae skaith gin it had never been blither.

1875.  P. Ponder, Kirkcumdoon, 85 (E.D.D.). It wud be tellin’ the pairish an’ himsel’ gin Josey gaed less aboot the Wallace Arms.

1889.  H. Johnston, Chron. Glenbuckie, vii. 80. It would have been telling me a ten-pound note [if I had taken your advice].

Mod. Sc.  It would be telling some people if they took a leaf out of his book.

  23.  With adverbs: a. Tell out: to separate or exclude by counting; to count out. arch. or dial.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Chron. ii. 2. Salomon … tolde out thre score and ten thousande men to beare burthens.

1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 138. Burn … had been long told out of the London list as a cur.

  b.  Tell off: to count off from the whole number or company; to separate, detach, esp. so many men for a particular duty; hence gen. to appoint to a particular task, object, position, or the like.

1827.  Scott, Jrnl., 29 Jan. How could the castes be distinguished or told off in a populous nation?

1837.  Marryat, Dog-fiend, l. The troops were told-off into the boats.

1858.  Froude, Hist. Eng., III. xiii. 173. Ten knights were then told off, and ten followers for every knight, to ride down to Doncaster.

1890.  Guardian, 23 July, 1159/3. A constable had been told off to watch the defendant.

1893.  Forbes-Mitchell, Remin. Gt. Mutiny, 84. The sentries were posted on the ramparts and regular reliefs told off.

  c.  Tell off (intr. for refl.). Mil. Of a rank or troop of men: To number themselves in succession.

1833.  Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 86. The men are to be instructed to tell off by files and by threes.

  III.  To account, or estimate, qualitatively.

  † 24.  To account, consider, reckon, estimate, esteem as being (something). With compl. or for. Obs.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past. C., iii. 35. He fleah dæt rice, & tealde hine selfne his suiðe unwierðne.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xi. 16. Hwam telle ic þas cneorysse ʓelice?

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 43. Sone so þu telles te betere þen an oðer.

c. 1330.  R. Brunne, Chron. Wase (Rolls), 2789. Ȝyr men dide hem any wo, Hit was teld for felonye. Ibid., 10555. He [a knight] was told of non honour Bot he had ben wyþ kyng Arthour.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Troylus, III. 765 (814). Wordly selynesse Which clerkes tellyn fals felicite.

1411.  Rolls of Parlt., III. 651/1. They schall tellen hem well payed with favour and grace.

c. 1425.  Eng. Conq. Irel., 1. Leynyster, that is I-told he fifte parte of Irland.

c. 1430.  Syr Gener. (Roxb.), 4132. Doo way, quod the king…, I tel hir myne.

  † b.  To tell scorn: to count it scorn, to scorn (to do something). Obs.

1477.  Paston Lett., III. 185. The fawcon Which is alofte, tellith scorne to loke a down.

  † 25.  intr., or trans. with cognate obj. (to tell tale): To make account of; to have a specified estimate or opinion of; to think (much or little) of; to set (much or little) store by (to). To tell (more, etc.) price: see PRICE sb. 8. Obs.

c. 1175.  Lamb. Hom., 147. An oðer is þet he telle swa lutel tale þeror.

a. 1225.  Leg Kath., 89. To … beon icleopet lefdi, Þet feole telleð wel to.

a. 1225.  Owl & Night., 793. Telstu bi me þe wrs for þan Þat ic bute enne craft ne kan?

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 463. Whanne þey tellen more bi a cronycle of foly … þan þey tellen bi cristis lawe.

c. 1400.  Rom. Rose, 5053. For litel sholde a man telle Of hir, that wolle hir body selle.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 2178. Thei tolde right nauȝt of thyn awe.

c. 1450.  Lovelich, Grail, xlv. 38. This peple, he seide ful Schortly, Nis non thing Forto tellen by.

c. 1475.  Partenay, 3029. Thys Geaunt noght told of hym in no degre.

  26.  intr. To count (for something); to be of account or weight; to have its effect, be effective, act or operate with effect; to make an impression.

  Perh. orig. a pugilistic expression.

1797.  Monthly Mag., III. 546. Every blow that they receive upon their projecting surface, tells.

1811.  Lamb, Genius & Char. Hogarth, Wks. (1895), 277. Everything in the print, to use a vulgar expression, tells.

1812.  Sporting Mag., XXXIX. 102. Several blows of consequence told.

1833.  L. Ritchie, Wand. by Loire, 24. These peculiarities make the place tell well in an outside view.

1865.  Kingsley, Herew., iii. Martin Lightroot saw that his appeal to the antipathies of race had told.

1887.  Sir R. H. Roberts, In the Shires, ii. 32. Going … at a pace … that began to tell upon the horses.

  b.  To have weight or influence in favor of or against.

1799.  Dundas, in Owen, Wellesley’s Desp. (1877), 637. It is a transaction which tells in our favour.

1870.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. App. 648. It tells somewhat against his interpretation.