Definition of "parable"

parable¹

/ˈpaɹəbəl/

noun
plural parables
1. A short narrative illustrating a lesson (usually religious/moral) by comparison or analogy.
verb
third-person singular simple present parables, present participle parabling, simple past and past participle parabled
1. (transitive) To represent by parable.
  Quotations
  Which by the ancient sages was thus parabled.
  1644, J[ohn] M[ilton], The Doctrine or Discipline of Divorce: […], 2nd edition, London: [s.n.], book

parable²

/ˈpaɹəbəl/

adjective
comparative more parable, superlative most parable
1. (obsolete) That can easily be prepared or procured; obtainable.
  Quotations
  The most parable and easy, and about which many are employed, is to teach a school, turn lecturer or curate […] .
  1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps
  well-wishers unto parable Physick
  1650, Thomas Browne, Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […]