proverb Definition
prov·erb (präv′ərb)
noun
- a short, traditional saying that expresses some obvious truth or familiar experience; adage; maxim
- a person or thing that has become commonly recognized as a type of specified characteristics; byword
- Bible an enigmatic saying in which a profound truth is cloaked
Etymology: OFr proverbe < L proverbium < pro-, pro- + verbum, word: see verb
transitive verb
Archaic to make a proverb or byword of
Etymology: ME prouerben
proverb Synonyms
proverb
n.
proverb Usage Examples
Converse of object
- remember: Remember the programming proverb: " Weeks of programming can save a few hours of design time.
- quote: Cox used to quote proverbs like ' The Devil makes work for idle hands to do ' .
- say: I also had a brilliant Chinese teacher who each day would say a profound Chinese proverb.
- hear: SPEAKER 2: Have you ever heard this old proverb?
- know: You know the proverb, and it's true: The gull sees farthest who flies highest.
- become: Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Adjective modifier
- Chinese: In the words of the Chinese proverb: A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.
- Gaelic: There is a Gaelic proverb to the effect that a friend at hand is better than a brother who is far away.
- Russian: A Russian proverb says: " What is written down with a pen cannot be hacked away with an ax.
- ancient: May I refer you to the ancient proverb " Don't say what you don't want quoted later " .
- African: There is an old African proverb which says The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.
- old: In the words of the old English proverb, From small acorns great oaks do grow.
Preposition: on
subject: Three of the book's nine chapters revolve around proverbs on this subject.
Modifies a noun
- chapter: Proverbs chapter 16 ( NLT ) 11 The LORD demands fairness in every business deal; he sets the standard.
- state: An old Kenyan proverb states that we should Treat the Earth well.
Preposition: of
hell: Plates 7-10 Proverbs of Hell ( selected ) The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.
Noun used with modifier
- management: Most have been sent in by email, so the collection of project management proverbs continues to grow.
- project: Most have been sent in by email, so the collection of project management proverbs continues to grow.
- Yiddish: Yiddish proverb Most people are more comfortable with old problems than with new solutions.
- Bedouin: The horse, of course, also figures highly in Bedouin proverbs.
Browse dictionary entries near proverb
- ‹ proventriculus
- ‹ provenience
- ‹ provender
- ‹ Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- ‹ Provence
- ‹ Provençal
- ‹ provenance
- ‹ proven
- ‹ proved
- ‹ prove
- proverbial ›
- proverbially ›
- Proverbs ›
- provide ›
- provide for or against ›
- provided ›
- provided that ›
- providence ›
- provident ›
- providential ›

