| 1 | Middle English | parable | A parable or narrative; A maxim or byword, a... |
| 2 | Old French | parable | — |
| 3 | Late Latin | parabola | parable, speech; speech; A comparison,... |
| 4 | Latin | parabola | A comparison, illustration, likeness; An... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | παραβολή | a placing of two things side by side,... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | παραβάλλω | to compare; to set side by side; I set side by... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | πᾰρᾰ- | near; next to; by, near |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | παρά | |
| 9 | Latin | verēdus | — |
| 10 | Gaulish | werēdos | horse |
| 11 | Proto-Celtic | *uɸoreidos | — |