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tall

(tôl)

adj. tall·er, tall·est

a. Having greater than ordinary height: a tall woman.

b. Having considerable height, especially in relation to width; lofty: tall trees.

2. Having a specified height: a plant three feet tall.

3. Informal Fanciful or exaggerated; boastful: tall tales of heroic exploits.

4. Impressively great or difficult: a tall order to fill.

5. Obsolete Excellent; fine.

adv.

With proud bearing; straight: stand tall.

[Middle English, brave, quick, from Old English getæl, swift; see del-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

tallish adj.

tallness n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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