FABLE

legend, fable

(noun) a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

fable, parable, allegory, apologue

(noun) a short moral story (often with animal characters)

fabrication, fiction, fable

(noun) a deliberately false or improbable account

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

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.

Synonym: morality play

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

Synonym: legend

Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

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

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.

(transitive, archaic) To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.

Synonyms: make up, invent, feign, devise

Anagrams

• befal

Source: Wiktionary

Fa"ble, n. Etym: [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.

Fa"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabling.]

Definition: 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, v. t.

Definition: To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. The hell thou fablest. Milton.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition