English Explanatory Dictionary

fable

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.
  2. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
  3. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
  4. The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
verb
  1. To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.
  2. To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.

Pronunciation

fā′bəl /ˈfeɪbəl/ en-us-fable.ogg

Word forms

fable fables fabling fabled

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French fable, from Latin fābula, from fārī (“to speak, say”) + -bula (“instrumental suffix”). See ban, and compare fabulous, fame. Doublet of fabula.

Synonyms

morality play legend make up invent feign devise

Related words

fabulous

Derived words

fabledom fablelike fablemaker fablemonger fablist fabulist fibble-fable fible-fable have a fable for outfable personal fable semifable fabler
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