fabulare

Fabulare is a term occasionally used in scholarly discussions of narrative and fable theory to denote the act of crafting or recounting fables or fable-like narratives within a larger work. It is not a standard entry in major dictionaries and is typically employed as a specialized or coined label rather than a widely adopted lexical item.

Etymology and forms: The term is derived from the Latin fabula, meaning story or fable, combined with the common infinitive suffix -are. In English-language criticism, fabulare is often treated as a neologistic counterpart to related terms such as fabulate, fabulist, and fabulation, all of which share the same semantic field of storytelling and fictional fabrication.

Usage and interpretation: In practice, fabulare may be used to describe devices such as embedded or frame narratives that present fables within a text, or the deliberate fabrication of moral tales as part of a discourse. It intersects with broader discussions of fabulation, meaning the creation of narratives that expand or simulate a fictional world, and with the role of the fabulist, the storyteller who relays tales that carry moral, symbolic, or cultural weight.

Status and notes: Because fabulare is not a widely standardized term, its definition and scope can vary by author. When employed, authors typically provide a clear definition at the first occurrence to avoid ambiguity. Related concepts include fable, fabulation, fabulist, and fabulate.