An allegory is a story in which characters, events, and places stand for deeper ideas, such as moral, political, or spiritual truths. It works like a long, extended metaphor.
From Greek *allēgoria* “speaking otherwise,” from *allos* “other” + *agoreuein* “to speak in public.” It suggests saying one thing but meaning another on a deeper level.
In an allegory, every part of the story is secretly double-coded—it entertains on the surface while delivering a hidden lecture underneath. Once you realize *allegory* means “speaking otherwise,” you start hunting for what the story is really saying.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.