tell

About This Root

From Old English tellan (to count, reckon, narrate), from Proto-Germanic *taljan. The dual meaning of "count" and "narrate" reflects an ancient link — to recount is both to count again and to tell a story. Derivatives include telling (significant), retell (narrate again), and fortune-teller (one who "counts" fate). Related to German zählen (to count).

Associated Words