\Ap"o*logue\, n. [L. apologous, Gr. ?; ? from + ?
speech, ? to speak: cf. F. apologue.]
A story or relation of fictitious events, intended to convey
some moral truth; a moral fable.
Note: 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. [AE]sop's
      fables are good examples of apologues.