imparlance means discussion, especially before some action is taken; conference, debate. It carries an Arena rating of 1531, earned across 42 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, imparlance ranks #435 of 17,132 for Most Betrayed by Its Sound, #4,006 of 17,151 for The Improbable, #4,311 of 17,130 for Most Beautiful Words, #4,617 of 17,143 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words.
Why “imparlance” is a great word
IMPARLANCE — [Noun] A formal discussion or conference, especially a delay granted in a legal proceeding for parties to confer, originally with the aim of an amicable settlement. From Anglo-Norman *emparlaunce*, from Old French *emparler* (to speak, discuss), from *en-* (in) + *parler* (to speak). First attested in the late 16th century. Unlike an "adjournment," a general suspension of proceedings, or a "debate," a public contest of opposing views, imparlance is a procedural pause infused with conciliatory intent. It is the heavy oak door of the judge’s chambers closing softly behind counsel, the brittle sound of papers being sorted on a table, and the flicker of a guttering candle in a solicitor’s quiet office after hours—a formalized space where the machinery of judgment is momentarily stilled in the faint, persistent hope of accord.
Etymology
Ultimately from Anglo-Norman emparlance, from the verb Old French emparler.
noun
- Discussion, especially before some action is taken; conference, debate.e.g.“Full oftentimes did Britomart assay / To speake to them, and some emparlance move; / But they for nought their cruell hands would stay […].” — 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
- Time given to a party to talk or converse with his opponent, originally with the object of effecting, if possible, an amicable adjustment of the suit, but also used to obtain further time to plead or answer allegations.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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