Applied in the New Testament to the traditions and speculations, "cunningly devised fables", of the Jews on religious questions (1 Timothy 1:4; 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16). In such passages the word means anything false and unreal. But the word is used as almost equivalent to parable. Thus we have (1) the fable of Jotham, in which the trees are spoken of as choosing a king (Judges 9:8-15); and (2) that of the cedars of Lebanon and the thistle as Jehoash's answer to Amaziah (2 Kings 14:9).

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See Apologue.

2. (n.) The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.

3. (n.) Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

4. (n.) Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

5. (v. i.) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.

6. (v. t.) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.