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# A [[feigned]] [[story]] or [[tale]], intended to [[instruct]] or [[amuse]]; a [[fictitious]] [[narration]] intended to [[enforce]] some useful [[truth]] or [[precept]]; an [[apologue]].
# A [[feigned]] [[story]] or [[tale]], intended to [[instruct]] or [[amuse]]; a [[fictitious]] [[narration]] intended to [[enforce]] some useful [[truth]] or [[precept]]; an [[apologue]].
#* {{rfdate}} [[w:Joseph Addison|Joseph Addison]],
#*: Jotham's '''fable''' of the trees is the oldest extant.
#*: Jotham's '''fable''' of the trees is the oldest extant.
# The [[plot]], story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an [[epic]] or [[dramatic]] [[poem]].
#* {{rfdate}} [[w:John Dryden|John Dryden]]
#*: 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.
#*: 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.
# Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the [[theme]] of talk.
# Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the [[theme]] of talk.
#* {{rfdate}} [[w:First Epistle to Timothy|1 Timothy]] 4:7,
#* [[w:First Epistle to Timothy|1 Timothy]] 4:7,
#*: Old wives' '''fables'''.
#*: Old wives' '''fables'''.
#* {{rfdate}} [[w:Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson|Alfred Tennyson]],
#* [[w:Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson|Alfred Tennyson]],
#*: We grew The '''fable''' of the city where we dwelt.
#*: We grew The '''fable''' of the city where we dwelt.
# [[Fiction]]; [[untruth]]; falsehood.
# [[Fiction]]; [[untruth]]; falsehood.
#* {{rfdate}} [[w:Joseph Addison|Joseph Addison]],
#* [[w:Joseph Addison|Joseph Addison]],
#*: It would look like a '''fable''' to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.
#*: It would look like a '''fable''' to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.


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# {{intransitive}} To [[compose]] [[fables]]; hence, to write or speak [[fiction]] ; to write or [[utter]] what is not true.
# {{intransitive}} To [[compose]] [[fables]]; hence, to write or speak [[fiction]] ; to write or [[utter]] what is not true.
#:* He ''Fables'' not. - Shakespeare, ''1 Henry VI'', IV-ii.
#* Shakespeare, ''1 Henry VI'', IV-ii:
#*: He ''Fables'' not.
⚫
#:* Vain now the tales which ''fabling'' poets tell. - [[Matthew Prior]]
#:* He ''fables'', yet speaks truth. - [[Matthew Arnold]].
#* [[w:Matthew Prior|Matthew Prior]]:
⚫
#*: Vain now the tales which ''fabling'' poets tell.
#* [[w:Matthew Arnold|Matthew Arnold]]:
#*: He ''fables'', yet speaks truth.
# {{transitive}} To [[feign]]; to [[invent]]; to [[devise]], and speak of, as true or real; to tell of [[falsely]].
# {{transitive}} To [[feign]]; to [[invent]]; to [[devise]], and speak of, as true or real; to tell of [[falsely]].
#:* The hell thou ''fablest''. - [[w:John Milton|John Milton]].
#* [[w:John Milton|John Milton]]:
#:* The hell thou ''fablest''.


====Translations====
====Translations====

Revision as of 06:25, 20 January 2009

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

English

Etymology

French, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin (deprecated template usage) fabula, from (deprecated template usage) fari. See (deprecated template usage) Ban, and compare (deprecated template usage) fabulous, (deprecated template usage) fame.

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "en-us-fable.ogg" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 291: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "eɪbəl" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E.

Noun

fable (plural fables)

  1. A feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue.
    • Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant.
      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.
  2. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
  3. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
    • Joseph Addison,
      It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.

Translations

story or tale intended to instruct, to amuse, to enforce some useful truth or precept
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

Verb

fable (third-person singular simple present fabl, present participle ing, simple past and past participle fabled)

  1. Template:intransitive To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
    • Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI, IV-ii:
      He Fables not.
    • Matthew Prior:
      Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
    • Matthew Arnold:
      He fables, yet speaks truth.
  2. Template:transitive To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
    • The hell thou fablest.

Translations

References

Template:webster

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