Fable
Fable (fā"b'l) , noun
[French, from Latin fabula, from fari to speak, say. See Ban, and compare 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.
A fable may have talking animals anthropomorphically cast as humans representing different character types, sometimes illustrating some moral principle; as, Aesop's Fables.
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.
3.
Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
Old wives' fables.
We grew
The fable of the city where we dwelt.
4.
Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.
Fable , intransitive verb
To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.
He Fables not.
Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
He fables, yet speaks truth.
Fable , transitive verb
To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
The hell thou fablest.