apologue Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a short moral story (often with animal characters)
    parable; allegory; fable.

WordNet

Ap"o*logue noun
Etymology
L. apologous, Gr. from + speech, to speak: cf. F. apologue.
Definitions
  1. A story or relation of fictitious events, intended to convey some moral truth; a moral fable. ✍ An apologue differs from a parable in this;: the parable is drawn from events which take place among mankind, and therefore requires probability in the narrative; the apologue is founded on supposed actions of brutes or inanimate things, and therefore is not limited by strict rules of probability. Æsop's fables are good examples of apologues.

Webster 1913