Main Entry: al·le·go·ry

Pronunciation: \ˈa-lə-ˌgȯr-ē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural al·le·go·ries

Etymology: Middle English allegorie, from Latin allegoria, from Greek allēgoria, from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + -ēgorein to speak publicly, from agora assembly — more at else, agora

Date: 14th century

1 : the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also : an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression
2 : a symbolic representation : emblem 2