parable
PARUH-buhl
Parable (noun) means a short story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson through comparison. Example: “The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches compassion for strangers.”
noun
1
A short story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson through comparison.
"Catholic homilies normally draw on at least one Biblical lecture, often parables."
"In the New Testament the parables told by Jesus Christ convey His message, as in "The parable of the prodigal son"."
"The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches compassion for strangers."
"The teacher used a simple parable to explain honesty to the children."
How to use parable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short illustrative story, often with a moral or religious point, told to make an idea easier to grasp.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a biblical parable
tell a parable
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Word forms
- Plural
- parables
- Third person singular
- parables
- Past tense
- parabled
- Comparative
- more parable
- Superlative
- most parable
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the Good Samaritan teaches compassion for strangers.
Etymology
From Greek parabole ("comparison") via Latin and Old French — a doublet of "parabola" and "palaver."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for parable
See all rhymes for parable →Frequently asked questions
What does “parable” mean?
The word “parable” means a short story used to teach a moral or spiritual lesson through comparison. In plain terms, a short illustrative story, often with a moral or religious point, told to make an idea easier to grasp.
How do you pronounce “parable”?
“Parable” is pronounced PARUH-buhl (/ˈpæɹ.ə.bəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “parable” in a sentence?
Here is “parable” used in a sentence: “The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches compassion for strangers.”
What part of speech is “parable”?
“Parable” is a noun.
Where does the word “parable” come from?
The word “parable” comes from Latin. From Greek parabole ("comparison") via Latin and Old French — a doublet of "parabola" and "palaver.".
Is “parable” a common word?
“Parable” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
