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parable definition

para·ble (parə bəl)

noun

a short, simple story, usually of an occurrence of a familiar kind, from which a moral or religious lesson may be drawn

Etymology: ME < MFr parabole < LL(Ec) parabola, an allegorical relation, parable < L, comparison < Gr parabolē, an analogy (< paraballein, to throw beside: see para- & ball), in N.T. & LXX, parable: transl. of Heb mashal, comparison

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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