A cautionary tale is a story that serves as a warning or LESSON. It typically involves a moral or LESSON that is meant to be learned from the story. The term can be broken down into three crossword solutions: FABLE (5 letters), LESSON (6 letters), and ADVISORY (8 letters). A FABLE is a short story that often features animals or other mythical creatures as characters and usually has a moral or LESSON at the end. A LESSON is a moral or principle that is learned from a story or experience. An ADVISORY is a warning or advice given to someone. All of these terms are used to describe a cautionary tale, which is a story that serves as a warning or LESSON.