Tellable

tell ¹  (tl)

v. told (tld), tell·ing, tells

v.tr.

1. To give a detailed account of; narrate: tell what happened; told us a story.

2. To communicate by speech or writing; express with words: tell the truth; tell one's love.

3. To make known; reveal: tell a secret; tell fortunes.

4. To notify; inform.

5. To inform positively; assure: I tell you, the plan will work.

6. To give instructions to; direct: told the customers to wait in line.

7. To discover by observation; discern: could tell that he was upset.

8. To name or number one by one; count: telling one's blessings; 16 windows, all told.

v.intr.

1. To give an account or revelation: is prepared to break silence and tell.

2. To give evidence; inform: promised not to tell on her friend.

3. To have an effect or impact: In this game every move tells.

Phrasal Verb:

tell off Informal

To rebuke severely; reprimand.

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[Middle English tellen, from Old English tellan; see del-² in Indo-European roots.]

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tella·ble adj.

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tell ²  (tl)

n.

A mound, especially in the Middle East, made up of the remains of a succession of previous settlements.

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[Arabic tall; see tll in Semitic roots.]