proverb English · revision 925

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɹɒvɜːb/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɹɑˌvɝb/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|proverbe]], [[bor|fro|proverbe]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) and directly [[der|la|prōverbium|t=a common saying, proverb]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) literally “words put forward”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[af|la|prō-|verbum|t1=forth|t2=word]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In the title of the Old Testament ''Book of Proverbs'' (1303).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the scriptural sense a proverb was an enigmatic or oracular saying that requires interpretation (1382), a sense now obsolete.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The general sense, a short pithy saying in common use expressing a truth or practical precept, is recorded from about 1374.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) By the late 14th century it also meant a byword, an object of scorn (1382).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Old English had ''bīspell'' and ''bīword'' for a proverb.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1303 – the Book of Proverbs.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1374 – a pithy popular saying.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1382 – a byword; an enigmatic saying.^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1425 – ''proverbially''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1571 – ''proverbial'', well known.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A short, pithy saying in common use that expresses a basic truth or practical precept; an [[adage]] or [[saw]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A person or thing that is commonly referred to as a type of something; a [[byword]].^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Proverbs)'' A book of the [[Old Testament]] made up of wise sayings.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To speak of proverbially; to make a byword of.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[proverbial]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[maxim]]

+ * [[adage]]

+ * [[verb]]

+ * [[word]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House distinguishes a ''proverb'', a popular saying expressing common-sense truth, often metaphorically, from a ''[[maxim]]'', a brief statement of a general truth that serves as a rule of conduct.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}