parable

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpaɹəbəl/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹ.ə.bəl/, /ˈpɛɹ.ə.bəl/
• Rhymes: -æɹəbəl

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.

parable (plural parables)

1. 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.

• palaver
• parabola
• parabole
• parabolist
• parole

parable (third-person singular simple present parables, present participle parabling, simple past and past participle parabled)

1. (transitive) To represent by parable.
   • 1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, book:

     Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled.

• fable
• allegory
• pericope
• simile

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

parable (comparative more parable, superlative most parable)

1. (obsolete) That can easily be prepared or procured; obtainable.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:

     The most parable and easy, and about which many are employed, is to teach a school, turn lecturer or curate […] .

   • 1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC:

     well-wishers unto parable Physick

• parable on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• rapable

Ultimately from Latin parare (“to ward off”)

parable (plural parables)

1. preventable (able to be or fit to be prevented)

• parade
• parer (verb)

• palabre

• parabole, parabol, parabele, parabyl, parabyll, parabil

From Old French parable, parabole, from Late Latin parabola, from Ancient Greek παραβολή (parabolḗ).

• IPA^(key): /paˈraːblə/, /paˈraːbəl/, /ˈparabəl/

parable (plural parables)

1. A parable or narrative (usually teaching or illustrating a lesson)
2. A maxim or byword, a short phrase or quip teaching or illustrating a lesson.
3. A oration or session of speaking, especially one full of invective; a diatribe or rant.

• English: parable
• Scots: parable
• Yola: parboles (plural)

• “parā̆ble, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-04-21.