| Definitions | | fable |
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noun
- A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue.
- Quotations
- Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. - w:Joseph Addison, Joseph Addison.
- The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
- Quotations
- The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral. - w:John Dryden, John Dryden.
- Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
- Quotations
- Old wives' fables. - 1 Timothy 4:7
- We grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. - w:Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson.
- Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
- Quotations
- It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. - Joseph Addison.
Translations: - French: conte
- German: Fabel
- Italian: fiaba
- Spanish: cuento
verb (fabl, ing)
- (intransitive) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
- Quotations
- He Fables not. - Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI, IV-ii.
- Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. - Matthew Prior
- He fables, yet speaks truth. - Matthew Arnold.
- (transitive) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
- Quotations
- The hell thou fablest. - w:John Milton, John Milton.
Translations: Etymology: French, from Latin fabula, from fari to speak, say. See Ban, and compare fabulous, fame.
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