Byword Definition

bīwʉrd
bywords
noun
bywords
A familiar saying; proverb.
Webster's New World
A person or thing proverbial for some quality.
Webster's New World
A favorite or pet word or phrase.
Webster's New World
One that represents a type, class, or quality.
American Heritage
An object of scorn or ridicule.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Byword

Noun

Singular:
byword
Plural:
bywords

Origin of Byword

  • From Middle English byworde (“proverb”), from Old English bīword, bīwyrde (“proverb, household word", also "adverb”), from bī- (“by-”) + word (“word”); probably a translation of Latin proverbium. Compare also Old High German pīwurti (“proverb”), Old English bīspel (“proverb, example”), bīcwide (“byword, proverb, tale, fable”). More at byspel.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English byworde from Old English bīword translation of Latin prōverbium

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Byword Is Also Mentioned In

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