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allegory

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allegory

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

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