A species of fictitious writing, originally composed in
   meter in the Romance dialects, and afterward in prose, such as the
   tales of the court of Arthur, and of Amadis of Gaul; hence, any
   fictitious and wonderful tale; a sort of novel, especially one which
   treats of surprising adventures usually befalling a hero or a heroine;
   a tale of extravagant adventures, of love, and the like.