Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.
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.
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.
Source : WordNet®
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}]