fable
fable is defined in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1913) with 6 senses, and appears in Roget's Thesaurus (1911) with 40 related terms. The full text of each entry is reproduced verbatim below.
Definitions
- 1.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.
- 2.Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk. "Old wives' fables. " 1 Tim. iv.
- 3.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.
- 5.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.
- 6.To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. The hell thou fablest. Milton.
Source: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
Synonyms
Related terms (Roget's 1911)
- adumbrate
- adumbration
- allegorical
- allegorize
- allegory
- allude
- allusion
- allusive
- anagoge
- anagogical
- analogy
- apologue
- application
- apply
- association
- catachresis
- catachrestical
- colloquial
- colloquialism
- employ
- enallage
- exaggeration
- express
- figurative
- figure
- forth
- hyperbole
- image
- imagery
- ironical
- irony
- metalepsis
- metaphor
- metaphorical
- metonymy
- oneself
- parable
- parabolic
- personification
- personify
Source: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
Related questions
Reverse-dictionary questions
Definition-first questions whose answer is fable.
- What is any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk. "Old wives' fables. " 1 Tim. iv called?
- What is we grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson called?
- What is fiction; untruth; falsehood. It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. Addison called?
- What is to fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely. The hell thou fablest. Milton called?
Sources
- Definitions: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913 edition (public domain, via GCIDE / Project Gutenberg).
- Synonyms & antonyms: Roget's Thesaurus, 1911 edition (public domain, via Project Gutenberg eBook #10681).
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