fable

A fictitious narrative intended to enforce some useful truth or precept, usually with animals, etc. as characters; an apologue. Prototypically, Aesop's Fables.

Fiction; untruth; falsehood.

Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.

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

(no longer used) To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction; to write or utter what is not true.

(no longer used) To make up; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely; to recount in the form of a fable.