proverb
pronunciation
How to pronounce proverb in British English:
UK [ˈprɒvɜːb]
How to pronounce proverb in American English:
US [ˈprɑːvɜːrb]
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- Noun:
- a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
Word Origin
- proverb
- proverb: [14] Latin prōverbium meant literally ‘set of words put forth’ – that is, ‘commonly uttered’. It was a compound formed from the prefix prō- ‘forth’ and verbum ‘word’ (source of English verb, verbal, etc). English acquired it via Old French proverbe.=> adverb, verb, verbal, word
- proverb (n.)
- c. 1300, in boke of Prouerbyys, the Old Testament work, from Old French proverbe (12c.) and directly from Latin proverbium "a common saying, old adage, maxim," literally "words put forward," from pro- "forth" (see pro-) + verbum "word" (see verb). Used generally from late 14c. The Book of Proverbs in Old English was cwidboc, from cwide "speech, saying, proverb, homily," related to cwiddian "to talk, speak, say, discuss;" cwiddung "speech, saying, report."
Example
- 1. You may have heard the proverb silence is golden .
- 2. The devil is in the details or so the proverb goes .
- 3. Necessity , so the proverb has it , is the mother of invention .
- 4. In future , however , the wise russian proverb adopted by ronald reagan may come to apply : " trust , but verify " .
- 5. Westerners love a good chinese proverb .