parable

noun, verb, adj — 3 senses

parable

noun

UK /ˈpaɹəbəl/ · US /ˈpæɹ.ə.bəl/

Etymology From Middle English parable, from Old French parable, parabole, from Late Latin parabola, from Ancient Greek παραβολή (parabolḗ, “comparison”). Doublet of parabola, parole, and palaver.

1

Rhetoric A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy.

  • In the New Testament the parables told by Jesus Christ convey His message, as in "The parable of the prodigal son".
  • Catholic homilies normally draw on at least one Biblical lecture, often parables.
Synonyms
exemplum
Derived terms
metaparable, parablelike
Related terms
palaver, parabola, parabole, parabolist, parliament, parlor, parole

parable

verb

Etymology From Middle English parable, from Old French parable, parabole, from Late Latin parabola, from Ancient Greek παραβολή (parabolḗ, “comparison”). Doublet of parabola, parole, and palaver.

1

To represent by parable.

  • Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled.1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC:
Related terms
fable, allegory, pericope, simile

parable

adj

Etymology From Latin parābilis, from parāre (“to prepare, procure”).

1

Obsolete That can easily be prepared or procured; obtainable.

  • The most parable and easy, and about which many are employed, is to teach a school, turn lecturer or curate […].
  • well-wishers unto parable Physick1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.