Word
parable
Phoneticspara·ble
US/ˈpɛɹəbəɫ/
UK/pˈæɹəbəl/
Definition
n. a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.
n. a short narrative that uses familiar situations to illustrate a moral, religious, or philosophical point by way of analogy.
Examples
“The teacher shared a parable about the importance of kindness.”
“Many religious traditions use the parable as a primary tool for conveying complex ethical concepts to a general audience.”
“While the surface narrative of the parable is easily understood, scholars often debate the deeper allegorical implications regarding social justice and personal responsibility.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher shared a parable about the importance of kindness.”
contextual
“Many religious traditions use the parable as a primary tool for conveying complex ethical concepts to a general audience.”
complex
“While the surface narrative of the parable is easily understood, scholars often debate the deeper allegorical implications regarding social justice and personal responsibility.”
Real-World Examples
“He is not a man for grand conclusions, but I challenge any reader not to see this highly enjoyable book as a parable for so much that’s wrong with the current economy.” “What our reviewer said “I challenge any reader not to see this highly enjoyable book as a parable for so much that’s wrong with the current economy.” 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.
From Latin parābilis, from parāre (“to prepare, procure”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.