Middle English Dictionary Entry
fāble n.
Entry Info
| Forms | fāble n. Also fabel, fabul. |
| Etymology | OF fable, L fābula. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A fictitious or imaginative narrative or statement, esp. one based on legend or myth; also, fiction, story, or legend; fable lesinge; (b) a short fictitious narrative meant to convey a moral, a fable; (c) an object of general reproach or derision, a cautionary example, byword.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.421 : [V]arro telleþ nouȝt a fable lesynge [L fabuloso mendacio], but soþenesse of storie.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Ph.(Manly-Rickert)C.155 : Apius..was his name, for this is no fable But knowen for historial thyng notable.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.34 : Poul..Repreueth hem that weyuen soothfastnesse And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.2800 : In Cronique of time ago I finde a tale..which that is no fable.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)193a/a : Fables of grece menen that Deucalyon was made of stones.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)6998 : Saturnus and sir iubiter, þat we now of in fabuls here.
- c1400(?c1380) Pearl (Nero A.10)592 : Goddez ryȝt is redy & euermore rert, Oþer Holy Wryt is bot a fable.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1709 : Ouide..List in his fables swyche þinges telle.
- ?a1425(c1380) Chaucer Bo.(Benson-Robinson)3.pr.12.144 : The fables of the poetis.
- c1430(c1386) Chaucer LGW (Benson-Robinson)702 : This is storyal soth, it is no fable.
- c1450 Scrope Othea (Lngl 253)13 : The poietes, the wyche spak couertly and in maner of fable.
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)10526 : Þe round table Þat ȝit men telle of many a fable.
- c1475(?c1425) Avow.Arth.(Tay 9:French&Hale)17 : Þis is no fantum ne no fabulle.
- a1500(c1340) Rolle Psalter (UC 64)118.38 : Many takis godis wordis in forgetilnes, and fails fra thaim as thai ware fabils.
b
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)155 : Þerof zet ysopes þe fable of þe little hounde and of þe asse.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.363 : In Grees ffables were i-founde, and me seiþ þat Esopus fonde first fables for to hiȝte kyndeliche sooþnesse.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.75 : This fable of amptis was contreved.
c
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Deut.28.37 : Þou shalt be lost into prouerbe [Corp-O: proveerb; L proverbium] & fable to alle peplis.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)3 Kings 9.7 : Israel schal ben in to prouerbe & in to fable to alle peplis.
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.73ra : The temple that I haue halowed to my name I shal cast it away fro my syght, and it shal be a fable and prouerbe, and thys hows an example shal be to alle peple.
2.
(a) A false statement intended to deceive; a fiction, untruth, falsehood, lie; also, falsehood, lying, or deception; (b) maken fable(s, to tell an untruth or lie; (c) withouten or saun (ani) fable, without falsehood or pretense, truly; in fact, actually, to a certainty (often as verse tag).
Associated quotations
a
- c1300 Horn (LdMisc 108)40/737 : Horn cam in to stable Wel modi for þe fable.
- c1330(?c1300) Spec.Guy (Auch)3 : Þat i wole speke, it is no fable.
- c1390 Cato(1) (Vrn)570/216 : Hose feyneþ him frend with word..With such a seruyse serue þou him And telle him tale of fable.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.913 : A fable vnsoth, Falsly feyned.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)4835 : Many a lesyng and many a fable.
- a1425 This blessyd boke (LdMisc 286)40 : Thei bene soth and nothing fabul.
- ?a1425 Mandev.(2) (Eg 1982)95/7 : Na man say þat þis es feyned thing or fable.
- c1432-a1500(c1390) Chaucer L.St.(Robinson)15 : Trouthe is put doun, resoun is holden fable.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)28.140 : They Weren Wordis Of non fable.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)3178 : Y nyl þerof no worde to ȝow of fable make.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)83 : Wolt thou holde the gospel at fable and lesinge?
- c1425 Wycl.Antichr.(2) (Dub 245)p.cxxii : Þei shal not suffre hoolsum lore but bowe a wey from trewþe & ben turned in to fables.
b
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)43.210 : I lawhe..For þat ȝe maken fables so Openly, and seyn that I Abasched was.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)3834 : He gan to glose, and make ffable.
c
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4115 : Þe douke þo, wiþouten fable, Of Cardoil hadde ben constable.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)66/1424 : Soþ i seie, wiȝ outen fable.
- a1375(1335-1361) WPal.(KC 13)4608 : Þis ȝe witeþ wel alle, with-oute any fabul.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.180 : Sikerly with outen any fable.
- c1400(?a1300) *KAlex.(LdMisc 622)134 : Of golde he makeþ hym an table Al ful of sterren, saun fable.
- a1425(?a1400) RRose (Htrn 409)705 : What folk there with hym were, Withoute fable I wol discryve.
- a1450(a1425) Mirk IPP (Cld A.2:Peacock)578 : Þey holde þe fyrste sylabul..ys gode wythouten fabul.
3.
(a) An idle or foolish tale; (b) ?the subject of idle talk or chatter; (c) holden in fable, to detain with idle talk.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))1 Tim.4.7 : Schonye thou vncouenable fablis and veyn [WB(2): vncouenable fablis and elde wymmenus fablis].
b
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.2 Merch.(Hrl 2255)555 : Now am I repreef to my freendys alle, Markyd of many and of the peeple fable.
c
- 1532(?a1400) RRose (Thynne)1439 : I wol nat longe holde you in fable Of al this garden dilectable.