fa·ble (fā'bəl)
n.

1. A usually short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point and often employing as characters animals that speak and act like humans.
2. A story about legendary persons and exploits.
3. A falsehood; a lie.

v., -bled, -bling, -bles.

v.tr.
To recount as if true.

v.intr. Archaic
To compose fables.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin fābula, from fārī, to speak.]

fabler fa'bler n.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---