Fable — Defs

01 n. A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologu…

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. See: 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.
“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.

02 v. i. To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.

imp. & p. p. Fabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabling

1.
To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
“Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.” — Prior.

“He fables, yet speaks truth.” — M. Arnold.

03 v. t. To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.

1.
To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
“The hell thou fablest.” — Milton.