From the Latin sparsus, meaning âscattered,â we get the adjective sparse, which means âfew and scattered.â Thinning hair is sparse, as is the population of an endangered species. Or a small and scattered crowd for an unpopular band. Synonyms include dispersed, infrequent, and scanty.
The purpose of the fable is to teach a lesson about a human weakness or folly. To reinforce this lesson, fables usually include a moral at the end of the tale. In addition to teaching a lesson, fables offer a satirical look at human beings and their behaviors.he purpose of the fable is to teach a lesson about a human weakness or folly. To reinforce this lesson, fables usually include a moral at the end of the tale. In addition to teaching a lesson, fables offer a satirical look at human beings and their behaviors.
In ancient Greek and Roman education, the fable was the first of the progymnasmata âtraining exercises in prose composition and public speakingâwherein students would be asked to learn fables, expand upon them, invent their own, and finally use them as persuasive examples in longer forensic or deliberative speeches.