Ăp'o-lŏgue, n.

(ăp'o-log), n. [Fr. apologue, Lat. apologus, Gr. ἀπόλογος, story, tale, fable, from ἀπό, from, and λόγος, speech; λέγειν, to speak.] A story or relation of fictitious events, intended to convey useful truths; a moral fable. ☞ An apologue differs from a parable in this: the parable is drawn from events which take place among mankind, and therefore requires probability in the narrative; the apologue is founded on supposed actions of brutes or inanimate things, and therefore is not limited by strict rules of probability. Æsop's fables are good examples of apologues. Syn.—See PARABLE.