Dictionary

fable en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfeɪbəl/
• fā′bəl
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French fable, from Latin fābula, from fārī (“to speak, say”) + -bula (“instrumental suffix”). See ban, and compare fabulous, fame. Doublet of fabula.

Meanings

1. A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.
2. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
   • […]we grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt. 1842, Alfred Tennyson, “The Gardener’s Daughter; or, The Pictures”, in Poems. […], volume II, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 19:
   • But refuſe prophane and olde wiues fables, and exerciſe thy ſelfe rather vnto godlineſſe. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Timothy 4:7, column 1:
3. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
   • I say it would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away all which is the overplus of a great fortune by secret methods to other men. 1712 January 12 (Gregorian calendar), [Joseph Addison; Richard Steele et al.], “TUESDAY, January 2, 1711–1712”, in The Spectator, number 264; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 316:
4. The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
   • For the moral (as Bossu observes,) is the first business of the poet, as being the groundwork of his instruction. This being formed, he contrives such a design, or fable, as may be most suitable to the moral; 1695, John Dryden, A Parallel betwixt Painting and Poetry:

Forms

Deriveds

fabulist · fibble-fable · fablemaker · personal fable · outfable · have a fable for · fabledom · fablelike · fablemonger · semifable · fablist · fible-fable

Relateds

fabulous

Synonyms

legend · morality play

Translations (168)

cmn 謊言 /谎言 (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · sl basen (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · mk измислица (story told to excite wonder) · fi taru (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · sq përrallë (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fi taru (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · nb fabel (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · got 𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌻𐌻 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · mk измислица (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · pt fábula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fi taru (story told to excite wonder) · ko 우화 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · vi ngụ ngôn (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · pl bajka (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · fi vale (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · fr fable (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hu tanítómese (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hy առակ (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · he מַעֲשִׂיָּה (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · sq fabul (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · it fiaba (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fi satu (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · be ба́йка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fa-ira فابْل (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fa-ira حِکایَت (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sh bȃjka (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · grc αἶνος (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · uk ви́гадка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · tg ҳикоят (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · bn রূপকথা (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · jv dongèng (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · he מַעֲשִׂיָּה (story told to excite wonder) · sh skazna (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tg матал (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ug مەسەل (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru ба́йка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · is dæmisaga (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · bg изми́слица (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ru не́быль (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · tg афсона (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · lo ນິຍາຽ (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · oc fabla (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hi नीतिकथा (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru ска́зка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ru ска́зка (story told to excite wonder) · ro poveste (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ota داستان (story told to excite wonder) · my ရှေးစကား (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru вы́думка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ota داستان (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hi फ़साना (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · cs bajka (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · yue 寓言 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ca faula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sh сказна (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · uk ка́зка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · kk ертегі (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ro fabulă (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · my ပုံပြင် (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · mi pakikīrehe (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tg масал (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ota افسانه (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ro legendă (story told to excite wonder) · bn উপকথা (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ba мәҫәл (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · el μύθος (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · mk ба́сна (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sk rozprávka (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fa-ira اَفْسانِه (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ro poveste (story told to excite wonder) · ar خُرَافَة (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · zu inganekwane (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ga finscéal (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · pl bajka (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ota اسطوره (story told to excite wonder) · ru вы́думка (story told to excite wonder) · be вы́думка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · sv saga (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tg шуг (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · lo ນິທານ (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · da eventyr (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · nn fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ky жомок (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · lt pasakėčia (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · be небылі́ца (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ur فَسانَہ (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · et valm (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tl sayguni (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ar خُرَافَة (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · fr conte (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · he מעשייה (story told to excite wonder) · ka იგავი (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · az əfsanə (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ur حِکایَت (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tr fabl (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · cmn 寓言 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · uk ви́думка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · uk небили́ця (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · uz masal (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hu fabula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · nan-hbl 寓言 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · bg при́тча (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · uk ба́йка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fa-ira مَتَل (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · la apologus (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru небыли́ца (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · sw hadithi (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ro poveste (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · nl fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ar أُسْطُورَة (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tr öykünce (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · bg ба́сня (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fa-ira لُغاز (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ja 寓話 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · he מָשָׁל (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · bg изми́слица (story told to excite wonder) · io fablo (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ja 寓言 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · da fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · xag 𐔸𐔰𐕃𐕒𐕡𐕘𐔴𐕒𐕡𐕢𐔴𐕚𐕒𐕡𐕎 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · kk мысал (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sh bȁsna (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru ба́йка (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · cmn 神話 /神话 (story told to excite wonder) · th ตำนาน (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru ска́зка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · jv dongèngan (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · cmn 傳說 /传说 (story told to excite wonder) · ru ба́йка (story told to excite wonder) · fi tarina (story told to excite wonder) · eo fablo (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · grc μῦθος (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ota افسانه (story told to excite wonder) · la fābulātiō (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · az təmsil (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sv berättelse (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tl pabula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · id fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · pl opowieść (story told to excite wonder) · ps حکايت (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ota اسطوره (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sk bájka (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · yi משל (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ak anansesem (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · hu mese (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · nb fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · tt мәсәл (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · es fábula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · uk ви́гад (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · de Fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · cpn anansesem (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sh ба̏сна (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · xag 𐔱𐔰𐔸𐔴𐕣𐔰𐔾𐔼𐕅 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sh ба̑јка (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · be не́быль (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · ko 우언 (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · sv fabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · he מעשייה (fiction, untruth, falsehood) · stq Foabel (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru при́тча (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · fi juttu (story told to excite wonder) · ru небыли́ца (story told to excite wonder) · nb eventyr (story told to excite wonder) · lv fabula (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ru ба́сня (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · izh basnja (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · ps افسانه (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept) · mi kōrero tara (fictitious narration to enforce some useful truth or precept)

wikidata: Q693

fable en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈfeɪbəl/
• fā′bəl
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French fable, from Latin fābula, from fārī (“to speak, say”) + -bula (“instrumental suffix”). See ban, and compare fabulous, fame. Doublet of fabula.

Meanings

1. (archaic, intransitive) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.
   • 1852, Matthew Arnold, Empedocles on Etna, Act II, in Empedocles on Etna and Other Poems, London: B. Fellowes, p. 50, He fables, yet speaks truth.
   • He Fables not, I heare the enemie: / Out ſome light Horſemen, and peruſe their Wings. 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii], page 111, column 2:
   • Vain now the Tales which fab’ling Poets tell, / That wav’ring Conqueſt ſtill deſires to rove; / In Marlbrô’s Camp the Goddeſs knows to dwell: / Long as the Hero’s Life remains her Love. 1709, Mat[thew] Prior, “An Ode, Humbly Inscrib’d to the Queen”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, stanza XVII, page 287:
2. (archaic, transitive) To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.
   • […] erre not that ſo ſhall end / The ſtrife of Glorie: which we mean to win, / Or turn this Heav’n itſelf into the Hell / Thou fableſt […] 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 288–292:
   • Fabled by the daughters of memory. And yet it was in some way if not as memory fabled it. A phrase, then, of impatience, thud of Blake’s wings of excess. 1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 2: Nestor]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC, part I [Telemachia], page 24:
   • THE Poets Fable, That Apollo being enamoured of Caſſandra, was by her many ſhifts and cunning ſlights ſtill deluded in his Deſire […] 1691, “Cassandra, or, Divination”, in Arthur Gorges, transl., The Wisdom of the Ancients, London, translation of [De Sapientia Veterum] by Francis Bacon, page 1:

Forms

Deriveds

fabler

Synonyms

feign · devise · make up · invent

Translations (24)

cmn 編造 /编造 (tell of falsely) · cmn 捏造 (compose fables) · mk измислува (tell of falsely) · pl stworzyć bajki (compose fables) · de fabulieren (compose fables) · fi puhua omiaan (tell of falsely) · hu kohol (tell of falsely) · da fabulere (tell of falsely) · cmn 虛構 /虚构 (compose fables) · mk фабули́ра (compose fables) · pl tworzyć bajki (compose fables) · bg измислям (tell of falsely) · fi sepittää (satuja) (compose fables) · cmn 編造 /编造 (compose fables) · bg съчинявам басни (compose fables) · pl bajdurzyć (tell of falsely) · cmn 虛構 /虚构 (tell of falsely) · hu költ (tell of falsely) · hu mesél (compose fables) · cmn 捏造 (tell of falsely) · da fable (compose fables) · ro fabula (tell of falsely) · nb fable (tell of falsely) · he המשיל (compose fables)