fable

¹fa·ble

noun \ˈfā-bəl\

Definition of FABLE

: a fictitious narrative or statement: as

a : a legendary story of supernatural happenings

b : a narration intended to enforce a useful truth; especially : one in which animals speak and act like human beings

c : falsehood, lie

Examples of FABLE

1. a fable about busy ants
2. The story that he won the battle single-handedly is a mere fable.
3. He combines fact and fable to make a more interesting story.

Origin of FABLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin fabula conversation, story, play, from fari to speak — more at ban

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to FABLE

Synonyms

apologue, allegory, parable

Antonyms

fact, materiality, reality

Related Words

beast fable, bestiary; morality play; legend, myth, mythology, narrative, tale

Near Antonyms

actuality, realness

Rhymes with FABLE

able, Babel, Bebel, cable, Froebel, gable, label, sable, stable, table

²fable

verb

fa·bledfa·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of FABLE

intransitive verb

archaic

: to tell fables

transitive verb

: to talk or write about as if true

— fa·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun

First Known Use of FABLE

14th century

fable

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Narration intended to enforce a useful truth, especially one in which animals or inanimate objects speak and act like human beings. Unlike a folktale, it has a moral that is woven into the story and often explicitly formulated at the end. The Western fable tradition began with tales ascribed to Aesop. It flourished in the Middle Ages, reached a high point in 17th-century France in the works of Jean de La Fontaine, and found a new audience in the 19th century with the rise of children's literature. Fables also have ancient roots in the literary and religious traditions of India, China, and Japan.