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Telltale
Definitions
- 1 Revealing something, especially something not intended to be known.
"I noticed the snow was dirty, a telltale sign of recent human presence."
- 1 disclosing unintentionally something concealed wordnet
- 1 One who divulges private information with intent to hurt others.
"Your husband is at hand; I heare his Trumpet, / We are not tell-tales, Madam; feare you not."
- 2 someone who gossips indiscreetly wordnet
- 3 An indicator, such as a warning light, that serves to warn of a hazard or problem.
"A railroad company, which has properly erected a “telltale,” or signal board, to give warning of the approach of a train to a bridge and which lights the place at night by an electric light, is not responsible for injury caused at night by the “telltale” to a brakeman who had been passing under it at regular intervals for five weeks, though when injured he was standing upon a new car higher than those before used, and though he ad received no warning from the company as to the danger of standing upon such a car while passing under the "telltale"."
- 4 Something that serves to reveal something else. figuratively
"The telltale was the lipstick on his shirt collar."
- 5 A movable piece of ivory, lead, or other material, connected to the bellows of an organ, whose position indicates when the wind is exhausted.
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- 6 A length of yarn or ribbon attached to a sail or shroud etc to indicate the direction of the flow of the air relative to the boat.
"The sailmakers mistake can be an excellent way to lose a race as the telltale signals were disturbed and confusing."
- 7 A mechanical attachment to the steering wheel, which, in the absence of a tiller, shows the position of the helm.
- 8 A compass in the cabin of a vessel, usually placed where the captain can see it at all hours, and thus inform himself of the vessel's course.
- 9 A machine or contrivance for indicating or recording something, particularly for keeping a check upon employees (factory hands, watchmen, drivers, etc.) by revealing to their employers what they have done or omitted.
- 10 A bird, the tattler.
- 11 A story or fable that has a moral or message.
""Metamorphoses . . ." is the title of a book of telltales (or serialised fables) written by Lucius Apulei¡us, a neo-platonist priest in the second century A.D."
Etymology
From tell + tale, perhaps dissimilated from earlier taleteller, from Middle English tale tellere (literally “tale teller”).
From tell + tale, perhaps dissimilated from earlier taleteller, from Middle English tale tellere (literally “tale teller”).
See also for "telltale"
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