Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Parable \Par"a*ble\, a. [L. parabilis, fr. parare to provide.]
   Procurable. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne.

Parable \Par"a*ble\, n. [F. parabole, L. parabola, fr. Gr. ? a
   placing beside or together, a comparing, comparison, a
   parable, fr. ? to throw beside, compare; ? beside + ? to
   throw; cf. Skr. gal to drop. Cf. {Emblem}, {Gland},
   {Palaver}, {Parabola}, {Parley}, {Parabole}, {Symbol}.]
   A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious
   narrative of something which might really occur in life or
   nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables
   of Christ. --Chaucer.

         Declare unto us the parable of the tares. --Matt. xiii.
                                                  36.

   Syn: See {Allegory}, and Note under {Apologue}.

Parable \Par"a*ble\, v. t.
   To represent by parable. [R.]

         Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled. --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

parable
     n 1: a short moral story (often with animal characters) [syn: {fable},
           {allegory}, {apologue}]
     2: (New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey
        his religious message; "the parable of the prodigal son"