Refine this word faster
Fable
Definitions
- 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 a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events wordnet
- 3 Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
"But refuſe prophane and olde wiues fables, and exerciſe thy ſelfe rather vnto godlineſſe."
- 4 a short moral story (often with animal characters) wordnet
- 5 Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
"I say it would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away all which is the overplus of a great fortune by secret methods to other men."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 a deliberately false or improbable account wordnet
- 7 The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
"For the moral (as Bossu observes,) is the first business of the poet, as being the groundwork of his instruction. This being formed, he contrives such a design, or fable, as may be most suitable to the moral;"
- 1 To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true. archaic, intransitive
"He Fables not, I heare the enemie: / Out ſome light Horſemen, and peruſe their Wings."
- 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. archaic, transitive
"[…] erre not that ſo ſhall end / The ſtrife of Glorie: which we mean to win, / Or turn this Heav’n itſelf into the Hell / Thou fableſt […]"
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.
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.
See also for "fable"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: fable