Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PAR'A-BLE, n. [Fr. parabole, from L. parabola; Gr. παραβολη, from παραβαλλω, to throw forward or against, to compare; παρα, to or against, and βαλλω, to throw; as in confero, collatum, to set together, or one thing with another.]

A fable or allegorical relation or representation of something real in life or nature, from which a moral is drawn for instruction; such as the parable of the trees choosing a king, Judges ix.; the parable of the poor man and his lamb, 2 Sam. xii.; the parable of the ten virgins, Matth. xxv.