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 expression2: a symbolic representation : emblem 2