Etymology Dictionary

TALE,  a number, reckoning, narrative.  (E.)   M. E. tale; see Chaucer, Cant. Tales.—A. S. talu, a number, a narrative; Grein, ii. 521. + Du. taal, language, tongue, speech. + Icel. tal, talk, a tale; tala, a number, a speech. + Dan. tale, speech. + Swed. tal, speech, number. + G. zahl, number; O. H. G. zala.   β. All from Teut. type TALA, a tale, number; Fick, iii. 120.   It is probable that Goth. untals, uninstructed, talzjan, to instruct, are related words.   The orig. sense was prob. 'order,' whence (1) number, (2) orderly arrangement of speech, narrative.   The prob. root is ✔DAR, to see, consider; cf. Skt. dri, to consider, respect, ádara, regard, concern, care.    Fick, i. 617.   Perhaps E. till is related; see Till (2).   Der. tale-bear-ing, tale-bear-er, tell-tale (Sherwood's Index to Cotgrave has 'a tale-bearer or tell-tale'); tale-tell-er, P. Plowman, B. xx. 297.   Also tell, q.v.   ¶ But not talk.