fable
UK: ˈfeɪb(ə)l | US: ˈfeɪb(ə)l
n. a short story, typically with animals as characters, conveying a moral lesson
n. a false or fictitious account; a myth or legend
The word "fable" traces back to Latin fābula, meaning "story" or "tale," rooted in fārī ("to speak"). It entered English via Old French fable, retaining its core meaning of a narrative, often with a moral lesson. The evolution reflects the oral tradition of storytelling, where spoken tales (fab-) were formalized into structured narratives (-le).
Aesop's Fables teach timeless lessons through animal characters.
The historian dismissed the claim as a mere fable.
Children love listening to fables about clever foxes and wise owls.
His excuse was nothing but an elaborate fable.
Many cultures have fables explaining natural phenomena.