Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fable"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Fable
applied in the New Testament to the traditions and speculations,
"cunningly devised fables", of the Jews on religious questions
(1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16). In such
passages the word means anything false and unreal. But the word
is used as almost equivalent to parable. Thus we have (1) the
fable of Jotham, in which the trees are spoken of as choosing a
king (Judg. 9:8-15); and (2) that of the cedars of Lebanon and
the thistle as Jehoash's answer to Amaziah (2 Kings 14:9).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fable \Fa"ble\, v. 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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fable \Fa"ble\, v. t.
To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or
real; to tell of falsely.
The hell thou fablest. --Milton.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fable \Fa"ble\ (f[=a]"b'l), n. [F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to
speak, say. See {Ban}, and cf. {Fabulous}, {Fame}.]
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 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.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
fable
n 1: a deliberately false or improbable account [syn: {fabrication},
{fiction}]
2: a short moral story (often with animal characters) [syn: {parable},
{allegory}, {apologue}]
3: a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
[syn: {legend}]
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