WordWealth: parol

pa·rol , Law.

1. something stated or declared. 2. by parol, by word of mouth; orally.

3. given by word of mouth; oral; not contained in documents: parol evidence.

[1470–80; earlier parole < AF, OF < VL *paraula, syncopated var. of *paravola; L parabola PARABLE; cf. PARLEY] (Random House Webster's Unabridged). Look at Thesaurus

Mrs. Bridesworth had an agreement by parol with her tenant for the monthly rent, but no written lease. —— Merriam-Webster

There is a fundamental premise of contract law called the parol evidence rule. Parol evidence is any evidence other than contract documents. Anything outside of a written contract is parol evidence, whether it is testimony about what was said during contract negotiations, proposals or letters memorializing conversations.--The parol evidence rule states that parol evidence is not admissible to alter or explain a written contract's terms (i.e., a contract's terms speak for themselves without regard to any evidence beyond the contract documents). If parties want to form an agreement, a contract is considered to state all the agreement's terms. Parol evidence is not part of a contract. As a result, it is not admissible to explain the meaning of any contract terms or explain what the parties meant or intended to do under a contract.--All the things you would have wanted to explain in the scenario—the proposal, letter and testimony about what the building owner said—would have been considered parol evidence. In addition, you would not have been able to explain that the written contract did not accurately express your agreement with the owner because this testimony also would have been considered parol evidence. —— Timothy  Vanderver III; Contracts and the Parol Evidence Rule; Legal Corner; Professional Roofing; Feb 2000

The purpose of the parol evidence rule is to “give legal effect to whatever intention the parties may have had to make their [written contract] a final and perhaps also a complete expression of their agreement.”--A partial integration is a document that embodies and represents a part of the agreement by the parties, but which leaves certain terms undefined.  Parol evidence can be accepted so long as the additional terms proven by the evidence are consistent with the original terms. —— Parol Evidence Rule; Lehrstühle Institute

Did you know? (Merriam-Webster)
Since the 18th century, "parol" has been pretty much confined to oral contracts and the realm of law. No longer is anyone likely to refer to the "sweet parols of his paramour," as in one 16th-century work. "Parol" brings to mind that other legal word, "parole." Both words lack any connection with law in their original form. They come from Latin "parabola," which means "parable" or "speech." The Latin, in turn, is from Greek "parabole," meaning "comparison." The French created two words (which we then borrowed) from "parabola": "parol," meaning "spoken words," and "parole," for "word of honor." Originally, "parole" was a prisoner of war’s promise to fulfill certain conditions on consideration of his release.

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