ALLEGORY


Meaning of ALLEGORY in English

/al"euh gawr'ee, -gohr'ee/ , n. , pl. allegories .

1. a representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete or material forms; figurative treatment of one subject under the guise of another.

2. a symbolical narrative: the allegory of Piers Plowman.

3. emblem (def. 3).

[ 1350-1400; ME allegorie allegoria allegoría, deriv. of allegoreîn to speak so as to imply something other. See ALLO-, AGORA; Gk agoreúein to speak, proclaim, orig. meant to act (e.g., speak) in the assembly ]

Syn. 2. fable, parable.

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .