Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fable
Fa′ble
(fā′b’l)
, Noun.
1.
A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See the Note under
Apologue
. Jotham’s
fable
of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison.
2.
The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
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. Dryden.
3.
Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
“Old wives' fables. ” 1 Tim. iv. 7.
We grew
The
The
fable
of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson.
4.
Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
It would look like a
fable
to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. Addison.
Fa′ble
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Fabled
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fabling
.] To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
“He Fables not.” Shak.
Vain now the tales which
fabling
poets tell. Prior.
He
fables
, yet speaks truth. M. Arnold.
Fa′ble
,Verb.
T.
To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
The hell thou
fablest
. Milton.
Webster 1828 Edition
Fable
FABLE
,Noun.
1.
A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept.Jothams fable of the trees is the oldest extant, and as beautiful as any made since.
2.
Fiction in general; as, the story is all a fable.3.
An idle story; vicious or vulgar fictions. But refuse profane and old wives fables. 1 Timothy 4.
4.
The plot, or connected series of events, in an epic or dramatic poem.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.
5.
Falsehood; a softer term for a lie.FABLE
, v.i.1.
To feign; to write fiction.Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
2.
To tell falsehoods; as, he fables not.FABLE
,Verb.
T.
The hell thou fablest.
Definition 2024
fable
fable
English
Noun
fable (plural fables)
- A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.
- Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
- 1 Timothy 4:7,
- Old wives' fables.
- (Can we date this quote?), Alfred Tennyson, (Please provide the title of the work):
- We grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt.
- 1 Timothy 4:7,
- Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
- (Can we date this quote?), Joseph Addison, (Please provide the title of the work):
- It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.
-
- The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
- (Can we date this quote?), Dryden, (Please provide the title of the work):
- 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.
-
Synonyms
- (fiction to enforce a useful precept): morality play
- (story to excite wonder): legend
- (falsehood):
Translations
fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept
|
|
story told to excite wonder
fiction, untruth, falsehood
Verb
fable (third-person singular simple present fables, present participle fabling, simple past and past participle fabled)
- (intransitive, archaic) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.
- (Can we date this quote?), Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI, IV-ii:
- He Fables not.
- (Can we date this quote?), Matthew Prior, (Please provide the title of the work):
- Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
- (Can we date this quote?), Matthew Arnold, (Please provide the title of the work):
- He fables, yet speaks truth.
-
- (transitive, archaic) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
- (Can we date this quote?), John Milton, (Please provide the title of the work):
- The **** thou fablest.
-
Translations
compose fables
tell of falsely
References
- fable in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913