apologue

[ ap-uh-lawg, -log ]

noun

1. a didactic narrative; a moral fable.
2. an allegory.

apologue

/ ˈæpəˌlɒɡ /

noun

1. an allegory or moral fable

Other Words From

• apo·logal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apologue¹

1545–55; (< Middle French ) < Latin apologus < Greek apólogos fable. See apo-, -logue

Word History and Origins

Origin of apologue¹

C17: from Latin, from Greek apologos

Example Sentences

“The Boys,” however, is an outsized apologue of the worst-case ending that is the product of outsized political rhetoric, years and years of it, that demonizes anyone that doesn’t agree with you.

From Salon

Still, there's a reason this epic was often invoked as a political apologue, especially in breakdowns of Beltway machinations.

From Salon

In hindsight, the trajectory is pretty direct from Deep Imagism to political poetry to “Iron John” — with its attacks against corporate visions of masculinity — to his recent apologues of the unconscious.

From New York Times

As often as this apologue is repeated, I still catch myself questioning its accuracy: Does the culture not prefer to hold people endlessly responsible for past indiscretions?

From The New Yorker

Strenuous devotion to the deliverance of mankind from dangers and pests is the “virtue” which, in Prodicus’ famous apologue on the Choice of Hercules, the hero preferred to an easy and happy life.

From Project Gutenberg