Proverb

prov′ėrb, n. a short familiar sentence expre ing a well-known truth or moral le on: a byword: ( B. ) a difficult saying that requires explanation: ( pl. ) a book of the Old Testament: a dramatic composition in which a proverb gives name and character to the plot.— v.t. to speak of proverbially: make a byword of: to provide with a proverb.— adj. Prover′bial , like or pertaining to proverbs: widely spoken of.— v.t. Prover′bialise , to turn into a proverb.— ns. Prover′bialism , a saying in the form of, or like, a proverb; Prover′bialist .— adv. Prover′bially . [Fr. prover be —L. proverbium — pro , publicly, verbum , a word.]