parable

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a short moral story (often with animal characters)
  2. noun (New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

fable, allegory, apologue

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