The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tale \Tale\, n. [AS. talu number, speech, narrative; akin to D.
   taal speech, language, G. zahl number, OHG. zala, Icel. tal,
   tala, number, speech, Sw. tal, Dan. tal number, tale speech,
   Goth. talzjan to instruct. Cf. Tell, v. t., Toll a tax,
   also Talk, v. i.]
   1. That which is told; an oral relation or recital; any
      rehearsal of what has occured; narrative; discourse;
      statement; history; story. "The tale of Troy divine."
      --Milton. "In such manner rime is Dante's tale."
      --Chaucer.
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            We spend our years as a tale that is told. --Ps. xc.
                                                  9.
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   2. A number told or counted off; a reckoning by count; an
      enumeration; a count, in distinction from measure or
      weight; a number reckoned or stated.
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            The ignorant, . . . who measure by tale, and not by
            weight.                               --Hooker.
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            And every shepherd tells his tale,
            Under the hawthorn in the dale.       --Milton.
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            In packing, they keep a just tale of the number.
                                                  --Carew.
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   3. (Law) A count or declaration. [Obs.]
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   To tell tale of, to make account of. [Obs.]
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            Therefore little tale hath he told
            Of any dream, so holy was his heart.  --Chaucer.
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   Syn: Anecdote; story; fable; incident; memoir; relation;
        account; legend; narrative.
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