Part 4121

<hw>Fa"bi*an</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>Fabianus</ets>, <ets>Fabius</ets>, belonging to Fabius.]</ety> <def>Of, pertaining to, or in the manner of, the Roman general, Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; cautious; dilatory; avoiding a decisive contest.</def>

<cs><col>Fabian policy</col>, <cd>a policy like that of Fabius Maximus, who, by carefully avoiding decisive contests, foiled Hannibal, harassing his army by marches, countermarches, and ambuscades; a policy of delays and cautions.</cd></cs>

<h1>Fable</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fa"ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F., fr. L. <ets>fabula</ets>, fr. <ets>fari</ets> to speak, say. See <er>Ban</er>, and cf. <er>Fabulous</er>, <er>Fame</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or precept; an apologue. See the Note under <er>Apologue</er>.</def>

<blockquote>Jotham's <b>fable</b> of the trees is the oldest extant. <i>Addison</i></blockquote>.

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the subject of an epic or dramatic poem.</def>

<blockquote>The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he contrives such a design or <b>fable</b> as may be most suitable to the moral. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.</def> "Old wives' <i>fables</i>. "

<i>1 Tim. iv. 7.</i>

<blockquote>We grew The <b>fable</b> of the city where we dwelt. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Fiction; untruth; falsehood.</def>

<blockquote>It would look like a <b>fable</b> to report that this gentleman gives away a great fortune by secret methods. <i>Addison.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fable</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fa"ble</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Fabled</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Fabling</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <def>To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write or utter what is not true.</def> "He <i>Fables</i> not."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Vain now the tales which <b>fabling</b> poets tell. <i>Prior.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>He <b>fables</b>, yet speaks truth. <i>M. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fable</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fa"ble</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real; to tell of falsely.</def>

<blockquote>The hell thou <b>fablest</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Fabler</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fa"bler</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A writer of fables; a fabulist; a dealer in untruths or falsehoods.</def>

<i> Br. Hall.</i>

<h1>Fabliau</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fa`bli`au"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Fabliaux</plw> <?/</plu>. <ety>[F., fr. OF.<ets>fablel</ets>, dim. of <ets>fable</ets> a fable.]</ety> <fld>(Fr. Lit.)</fld> <def>One of the metrical tales of the Trouv\'8ares, or early poets of the north of France.</def>

<h1>Fabric</h1> <Xpage=535>

<hw>Fab"ric</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>fabrica</ets> fabric, workshop: cf. F. <ets>fabrique</ets> fabric. See <er>Forge</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a thing are united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful <i>fabric</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>That which is fabricated</def>; as : <sd>(a)</sd> <def>Framework; structure; edifice; building</def>.</def>