- 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.
- But refuſe prophane and olde wiues fables, and exerciſe thy ſelfe rather vnto godlineſſe.
- […]we grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt.
- 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.
- 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;
fable
'feibl6 senses · 444 ms
Level C1CET-6考研TOEFL
- 1
To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.archaicintransitive
- 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.
- 2
To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.archaictransitive
- […] 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 […]
- THE Poets Fable, That Apollo being enamoured of Caſſandra, was by her many ſhifts and cunning ſlights ſtill deluded in his Deſire […]