Definition for: fable

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English

Etymology

French, from Latin fabula , from fari to speak, say. See Ban, and compare fabulous, fame.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪbəl

Noun

fable ( plural fables )

1. A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue.

   Quotations

   • Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. - Joseph Addison.

2. The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

   Quotations

   • The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral. - John Dryden.

3. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

   Quotations

   • Old wives' fables . - 1 Timothy 4:7
   • We grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. - Alfred Tennyson.

4. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

   Quotations

   • It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. - Joseph Addison.

Translations

• Chinese: 寓言 (yùyán)
• Croatian: bajka
• Czech: pohádka
• Danish: fabel
• Esperanto: fabelo
• French: conte m .
• German: Märchen n .
• Hungarian: mese
• Italian: fiaba m .
• Japanese: 寓言 (ぐうげん, gūgen)
• Kyerepon: anansesem
• Polish: bajka
• Romanian: poveste
• Slovak: rozprávka
• Spanish: cuento m .
• Swedish: saga, berättelse
• Twi: anansesem

Verb

to fable ( third-person singular simple present fables , present participle fabling , simple past fabled , past participle fabled )

1. ( intransitive ) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.

   Quotations

   • He Fables not. - Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI , IV-ii.
   • Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. - Matthew Prior
   • He fables , yet speaks truth. - Matthew Arnold.

2. ( transitive ) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.

   Quotations

   • The hell thou fablest . - John Milton.

Translations

compose fables

• Danish: fable
• German: fabulieren

tell of falsely

• Danish: fabulere

Other Translations for "fable"

Braille 6 Dot
Braille 8 Dot
Sign Language Spelling
Morse Code		fable
Hex		66 e1 e2 6c 65
Pig Latin		ablefay

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