noun
proverb
PRO-vurb
noun
1
A short, well-known saying that expresses a piece of common wisdom or advice.
""A stitch in time saves nine" is an old English proverb."
"Every culture has its own proverbs about patience."
How to Use Proverb
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA short traditional saying that gives advice or states a general truth, like "look before you leap."
Common pairings
an old proverb
as the proverb goes
Word Forms
proverbed past tense, proverbs plural, proverbs singular
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"A stitch in time saves nine" is an old English _____.
Etymology
From Old French proverbe, from Latin proverbium.