Etymology 14: Parable

The word parable comes from the early 14th century. It means, "saying or story in which something is expressed in terms of something else." Its origins trace back from the Latin "parabola" meaning, "comparison," and from the Greek "parabole," "a comparison, parable." Taken literally, it would mean "a throwing beside," from para- "alongside" + bole "a throwing, casting, beam, ray." This word would also be related to "ballein" which means "to throw," which actually ended up replacing the old English word bispell. In some instances, parabola also took on the meaning "word," hence the French "parler" meaning, "to speak."