allegory

[ al-uh-gawr-ee, -gohr-ee ]
/ ˈæl əˌgɔr i, -ˌgoʊr i /

noun, plural al·le·go·ries.

a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.
a symbolical narrative: the allegory of Piers Plowman.

Origin of allegory

1350–1400; Middle English allegorie < Latin allēgoria < Greek allēgoría, derivative of allēgoreîn to speak so as to imply something other. See allo-, agora1 Greek agoreúein to speak, proclaim, orig. meant to act (e.g., speak) in the assembly

Example sentences from the Web for allegory

British Dictionary definitions for allegory

allegory
/ (ˈælɪɡərɪ) /

noun plural -ries

a poem, play, picture, etc, in which the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolize a deeper moral or spiritual meaning
the technique or genre that this represents
use of such symbolism to illustrate truth or a moral
anything used as a symbol or emblem

Derived forms of allegory

allegorist, noun

Word Origin for allegory

C14: from Old French allegorie, from Latin allēgoria, from Greek, from allēgorein to speak figuratively, from allos other + agoreuein to make a speech in public, from agora a public gathering

Cultural definitions for allegory

allegory
[ (al-uh-gawr-ee) ]

A story that has a deeper or more general meaning in addition to its surface meaning. Allegories are composed of several symbols (see also symbol) or metaphors. For example, in The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, the character named Christian struggles to escape from a bog or swamp. The story of his difficulty is a symbol of the difficulty of leading a good life in the “bog” of this world. The “bog” is a metaphor or symbol of life's hardships and distractions. Similarly, when Christian loses a heavy pack that he has been carrying on his back, this symbolizes his freedom from the weight of sin that he has been carrying.