[ad. F. fabulosité ad. L. fābulōsitāt-em, f. fābulōsus: see prec.]
1. The quality of being fabulous; fabulousness. a. Of persons: Fondness for narrating or inventing fables.
1599. Abp. Abbot, Descr. World, Chaldea (1634), 112. In their [Chaldeans’] fabulositie they would report that they had … Observations for five and twentie thousand years.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., I. vi. 23. Now this unto the fabulositie of those times was thought sufficient to accuse Pasiphae of Beastiality, or admitting conjunction with a Bull.
b. Of a composition, narrative, etc.: Fabulous or mythical character; fictitiousness.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 489. Some there be (who more civilly avoiding the fabulosity of this tale) say [etc.].
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 236. He [Plato] doth but all the while slily jear it, plainly insinuating the Fabulosity thereof.
1741. Warburton, Div. Legat., II. VI. ii. 490. He supposed the fabulosity of that [Book of Job] concluded against the real existence of the Patriarch.
1777. Johnson, in Mad. D’Arblay’s Early Diary, 27 March. There is not … much of the spirit of fabulosity in this Fable.
† 2. quasi-concr. Something fabulous; a fabulous statement, fable. Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 605. That the age and posterity ensuing may yet be acquainted with their fabulosities.
1681. H. More, Exp. Dan., Preface, xlviii. The ridiculous fabulosity of Enoch and Elias their coming again in the Flesh, and their being slain by this Antichrist.
1807. G. Chalmers, Caledonia, I. Preface, p. viii. These form historical matters of singular interest if they be investigated from facts in contempt of fabulosity.
