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
Words nearby allegory
allegiant,
allegorical,
allegorist,
allegoristic,
allegorize,
allegory,
allegra,
allegretto,
allegri,
allegro,
allegro, l'
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, nounWord 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.