What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Fable vs Proverb - What's the difference?

fable | proverb |

As nouns the difference between fable and proverb

is that fable is a fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, birds etc as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables while proverb is a phrase expressing a basic truth which may be applied to common situations.

As verbs the difference between fable and proverb

is that fable is to compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true while proverb is to write or utter proverbs.

fable

English

(wikipedia fable)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, birds etc as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, .
  • Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
  • * 4:7,
    • Old wives' fables .
  • * ,
    • We grew / The fable of the city where we dwelt.
  • Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
  • * ,
    • It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods.
  • The plot, story, or connected series of events forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
  • * Dryden
    • The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the moral.

    Synonyms

    * (fiction to enforce a useful precept) morality play * (story to excite wonder) legend * (falsehood)

    Verb

    (fabl)
  • (archaic) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.
  • * Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI , IV-ii:
    • He Fables not.
  • * :
    • Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell.
  • * :
    • He fables , yet speaks truth.
  • (archaic) To feign; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.
  • * :
    • The hell thou fablest .

    References

    * (Webster 1913) ----

    proverb

    English

    (wikipedia proverb)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A phrase expressing a basic truth which may be applied to common situations.
  • A striking or paradoxical assertion; an obscure saying; an enigma; a parable.
  • * Bible, John xvi. 29
    • His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb .
  • A familiar illustration; a subject of contemptuous reference.
  • * Bible, Deuteronomy xxviii. 37
    • Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb , and a by word, among all nations.
  • A drama exemplifying a proverb.

    • Synonyms

    * (phrase expressing a basic truth) adage, apothegm, byword, maxim, paroemia, saw, saying, sententia * See also

    Derived terms

    * proverbial * proverbiology * proverbs hunt in pairs

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To write or utter proverbs.
  • To name in, or as, a proverb.
  • * 1671 , John Milton, Samson Agonistes , lines 203-205:
    • Am I not sung and proverbed for a fool / In every street, do they not say, "How well / Are come upon him his deserts?"
  • To provide with a proverb.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase.
    (Webster 1913)

    See also

    * ----