From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fable \Fa"ble\ (f[=a]"b'l), n. [F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to
speak, say. See Ban, and cf. Fabulous, Fame.]
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.
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Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant.
--Addison.
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Note: A fable may have talking animals anthropomorphically
cast as humans representing different character types,
sometimes illustrating some moral principle; as,
Aesop's Fables.
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2. The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming
the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
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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.
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3. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of
talk. "Old wives' fables. " --1 Tim. iv. 7.
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We grew
The fable of the city where we dwelt. --Tennyson.
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4. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
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It would look like a fable to report that this
gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret
methods. --Addison.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fable \Fa"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fabling.]
To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write
or utter what is not true. "He Fables not." --Shak.
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Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. --Prior.
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He fables, yet speaks truth. --M. Arnold.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fable \Fa"ble\, v. t.
To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or
real; to tell of falsely.
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The hell thou fablest. --Milton.
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