DictionaryRoot: tellan
Old English

tellan

to count or recount

Forms

  • tellan
  • tell — The old ending disappeared.
  • told — An older past form developed a different vowel.

Origin

An inherited Germanic verb, related to German zählen, “count,” and erzählen, “recount.”

Note

Telling a story and counting items were once closely linked meanings.

2 / 2
adjective

untold

Not told or made known.

The full story behind her decision remains untold for now.

Etymology

The negative prefix denies the telling action. An untold story or fact has not been communicated or made known.

More examples

  • He hopes to share the untold stories of local veterans.
  • Some details of the rescue remain untold.
  • Her memoir reveals a chapter of her life previously untold.

Forms

untold

tell verb — To communicate information or relate a story.

Similar words

unreported
Emphasizes that information has not been officially reported.
undisclosed
Emphasizes that information has not been made public.
unspoken
Specifically describes something not expressed aloud in words.