Main Entry:

¹pa·role

Pronunciation:

\pə-ˈrōl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French, speech, parole, from Middle French, from Late Latin parabola speech — more at parable

Date:

1531

1: a promise made with or confirmed by a pledge of one's honor ; especially : the promise of a prisoner of war to fulfill stated conditions in consideration of his release2: a watchword given only to officers of the guard and of the day3: a conditional release of a prisoner serving an indeterminate or unexpired sentence4 a: language viewed as a specific individual usage : performance b: a linguistic act — compare langue

— parole adjective