Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [prov-erb]
- /ˈprɒv ərb/
- /ˈprɒv.ɜːb/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [prov-erb]
- /ˈprɒv ərb/
Definitions of proverb word
- noun proverb a word that can substitute for a verb or verb phrase, as do in They never attend board meetings, but we do regularly. 1
- verb with object proverb to utter in the form of a proverb. 1
- verb with object proverb to make (something) the subject of a proverb. 1
- verb with object proverb to make a byword of. 1
- countable noun proverb A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you something about life. 0
- noun proverb a short, memorable, and often highly condensed saying embodying, esp with bold imagery, some commonplace fact or experience 0
Information block about the term
Origin of proverb
First appearance:
before 1275 One of the 13% oldest English words
1275-1325; Middle English proverbe < Middle French < Latin prōverbium adage, equivalent to prō- pro-1 + verb(um) word + -ium -ium
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Proverb
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
proverb popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 90% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
proverb usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for proverb
noun proverb
- aphorism — An aphorism is a short witty sentence which expresses a general truth or comment.
- apophthegm — a short cryptic remark containing some general or generally accepted truth; maxim
- apothegm — a short, pithy saying (Ex.: “Brevity is the soul of wit”)
- axiom — An axiom is a statement or idea which people accept as being true.
- by-word — a word or phrase associated with some person or thing; a characteristic expression, typical greeting, or the like.
Top questions with proverb
- what is a proverb?
- what does proverb mean?
- what is an adage and proverb?
- what is proverb?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with p
- Words starting with pr
- Words starting with pro
- Words starting with prov
- Words starting with prove
- Words starting with prover
- Words starting with proverb