Also 4, 7 fabuler. [f. prec. + -ER1: perh. after OF. fableor:—L. fābulātōrem: see FABULATOR.] One who fables. † a. A writer of fables or apologues (obs. rare–2: a literalism of translation). b. One who invents fictitious stories; chiefly in contemptuous use, a fiction-monger, fabulous historian. † c. One who speaks falsely, a liar (obs.).
a. 1382. Wyclif, Baruch iii. 23. The fablers, or janglers.
1609. Bible (Douay), ibid., iii. 23. Marchants of Merrhe, and of Theman, and fablers, and searchers of prudence and vnderstanding.
b. 1614. Raleigh, Hist. World, IV. ii. § 21. 485. Our great traveller Mandevile, who died in the year 1372, and had seene so much of the World, and of the East India, we accompted the greatest fabler of the World.
1644. Bp. Hall, Rem., Wks. (1660), 130. According to the bold legends of lying fablers.
1728. W. Smith, Ann. Univ. College, 153. Little Credit is to be given to these Fablers.
1821. T. Campbell, in New Monthly Mag., II. 228. The romantic fablers have generally aggravated the horrors of Circe.
1869. J. D. Baldwin, Preh. Nations, ii. (1877), 24. He followed that ready fabler, the Carian physician Ctesias.
1878. T. Sinclair, Mount, 28. Rather was he [Swedenborg] a mechanical fabler of facts.
c. 1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. II. 157.
| Alle þis oþure | |
| Fabulers and Faytours · þat on Fote rennen. |
1548. Hall, Chron., 88 b. The inhabitantes of Vernoyle gevyng to light credit to the Frenche fablers, received the duke.
1579. E. K., Gloss., Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., April, 120. Certain fine fablers and lowd lyers, such as were the Authors of King Arthure the great and such like.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., II. i., in Hazl., Dodsley, X. 47.
| Spu. Y’ are villains, fablers! | |
| You have knaves’ chins and harlots’ tongues; you lie. |
1624. F. White, Repl. Fisher, 86. Some of them censure the reporters of Miracles, as Imposters, and grosse Fabulers and Lyars.
