释义 |
fa·ble I. \ˈfābəl\ noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin fabula conversation, narrative, tale, play, fable, from fari to speak, say — more at fame 1. : a fictitious narrative or statement : an invented tale : fiction: as a. : untruth, falsehood < the fables and misrepresentations of this pamphlet > b. : a story of supernatural or highly marvelous happenings (as in legend, myth, or folklore) c. : a narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; especially : one in which animals and even inanimate objects speak and act like human beings < the fable of the fox in the barnyard > — see beast fable d. : casual, idle, or foolish report or talk < old wives' fables > broadly : common talk 2. a. : a subject of fable : something (as a mysterious event) productive of fabulous accounts or explanations; broadly : a theme of popular talk and speculation < he became the chief fable of the village > b. : a product of fable : something having reality only in fabulous accounts < if personal immortality is not a fable > 3. : the plot, story, or connected series of events forming the theme of a literary work (as an epic poem or play) Synonyms: see allegory, fiction II. verb (fabled ; fabled ; fabling \-b(ə)liŋ\ ; fables) Etymology: Middle English fablen, from Middle French fabler, from Latin fabulari to talk, from fabula intransitive verb 1. a. : to compose or tell fictitious tales b. obsolete : to talk idly 2. archaic : to write or speak what is not true : utter falsehoods : lie transitive verb : to devise and recount as if real : report as if literally true < it is fabled that Norsemen built the tower > < the bird of paradise was fabled to have no feet > < how he fell from Heaven they fabled — John Milton > |