fable Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a deliberately false or improbable account
fabrication; fiction.
noun a short moral story (often with animal characters)
parable; allegory; apologue.
noun a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events
legend.

F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to speak, say. See Ban, and cf. Fabulous, Fame.

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.
Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison
.
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.
Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk. "Old wives' fables. " 1 Tim. iv. 7.
We grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson.
Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. Addison.

imperfect & past participle Fabled ; present participle & verbal noun Fabling

To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true. "He Fables not." Shak.
Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior.

He fables, yet speaks truth. M. Arnold.

To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
The hell thou fablest. Milton.