“fables” is a form of
fable
/ˈfeɪbəl/ noun, verb
Forms fables fabling fabled
- noun A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.
- noun Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
- noun Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
- noun The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
- verb (intransitive, archaic) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.
- verb (transitive, archaic) To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.
Synonyms
morality play legend make up invent feign devise fabrication fiction parable allegory apologue
Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French fable, from Latin fābula, from fārī (“to speak, say”) + -bula (“instrumental suffix”). See ban, and compare fabulous, fame. Doublet of fabula.
Webster’s 1913
- noun 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.
- noun The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
- verb To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true. "He Fables not." Shak.
- verb To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
Etymology [F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to speak, say. See Ban, and cf. Fabulous, Fame.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “fable”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details