fābella (noun F) : dim.fabula
* A brief narrative, a short history, story (class.).
* In gen.: nihil debet esse in philosophia commentariis fabellis loci,Cic. Div. 2, 38, 80: vera,Phaedr. 2, 5, 6: in fabellam excedere,Sen. Ep. 77 med.
* In partic.
* A short fable, a tale, Phaedr. 4, 7, 22: Haec (anus) tibi fabellas referat, etc.,Tib. 1, 3, 85: aniles,Hor. S. 2, 6, 78.—Prov.: narrare fabellam asello,to preach to a stone,Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 200.
* A short play, Cic. Q. Fr. 2, 16, 3: haec tota fabella, quam est sine argumento!id. Cael. 27, 64.

s. TLL