parable

[ par-uh-buhl ]
/ ˈpær ə bəl /

noun

a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.
a statement or comment that conveys a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.

Origin of parable

1275–1325; Middle English parabil < Late Latin parabola comparison, parable, word < Greek parabolḗ comparison, equivalent to para- para-1 + bolḗ a throwing

OTHER WORDS FROM parable

pa·rab·o·list [puh-rab-uh-list] /pəˈræb ə lɪst/, noun

Example sentences from the Web for parables

British Dictionary definitions for parables

parable
/ (ˈpærəbəl) /

noun

a short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious or ethical point Related adjectives: parabolic, parabolical
any of the stories of this kind told by Jesus Christ

Derived forms of parable

parabolist (pəˈræbəlɪst), noun

Word Origin for parable

C14: from Old French parabole, from Latin parabola comparison, from Greek parabolē analogy, from paraballein to throw alongside, from para- 1 + ballein to throw

Cultural definitions for parables

parables

In the New Testament, the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message; they include the parable of the Good Samaritan and that of the Prodigal Son.