Par"a*ble (?), a. [L. parabilis, fr. parare to provide.] Procurable. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Par"a*ble, n. [F. parabole, L. parabola, fr. Gr. &?; a placing beside or together, a comparing, comparison, a parable, fr. &?; to throw beside, compare; para` beside + &?; to throw; cf. Skr. gal to drop. Cf. Emblem, Gland, Palaver, Parabola, Parley, Parabole, Symbol.] A comparison; a similitude; specifically, a short fictitious narrative of something which might really occur in life or nature, by means of which a moral is drawn; as, the parables of Christ. Chaucer.

Declare unto us the parable of the tares.

Syn. -- See Allegory, and Note under Apologue.

Par"a*ble, v. t. To represent by parable. [R.]

Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled.

• A short story illustrating a lesson; compare with fable, allegory.
  
• (New Testament) any of the stories told by Jesus to convey his religious message (Example: "The parable of the prodigal son").