| 释义 |
proverbial, a. (n.)|prəʊˈvɜːbɪəl|
[ad. late L. prōverbiāl-is, f. prōverbi-um: see proverb n. and -al1. So F. proverbial (1556 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
A. adj.
1. Resembling, characteristic of, or of the nature of a proverb; expressed in a proverb or proverbs. Also absol.
1432–50[implied in proverbially 1]. 1548Udall, etc. Erasm. Par. John xviii. 507 b, Jesus did vouchsafe to aunswere hym by a riddle and a prouerbiall saying. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 98 Although proverbs bee popular principles, yet is not all true that is proverbiall. 1712Steele Spect. No. 509 ⁋1 Delivered in his own homely Maxims, and a Kind of Proverbial Simplicity. 1908Q. Rev. Apr. 338 Popular expressions of proverbial wisdom. 1961N. & Q. Feb. 76/2 The description given certainly enlightens the reader as to a number of characteristics of the proverb, but equally certainly leaves him doubtful about where the proverbial leaves off.
2. That has passed into a proverb, or into common talk; used or current as a proverb; notorious. Also used with allusive force to introduce a word or expression that is familiar as (part of) a proverb or catch-phrase.
1571Golding Calvin on Ps. xliv. 14 The name of them flew comonly abrode among proverbyall figures in way of reproche. 1589Greene Menaphon (Arb.) 71 That grounded tranquilitie, which made it prouerbiall to the world, No heauen but Arcadie. 1711Steele Spect. No. 145 ⁋2 What Hudibras says of such Disputants, which is so true, that it is almost Proverbial. 1878Huxley Physiogr. 45 The proverbial London fog owes its density and darkness to the smoke. 1924Argosy 27 Sept. 463/1 In the more than proverbial nick..of time. 1928W. A. Wolff Trial of Mary Dugan xxiv. 282 Like the proverbial man from Missouri, I have to be shown. 1931H. Ashbrook Murder of Steven Kester xv. 225 The whole thing is rather ideal—the proverbial house party, a murder, everyone under suspicion. 1937M. Allingham Dancers in Mourning viii. 108 White Walls normally contained an excitable household... This morning..the proverbial monkey-wrench had landed squarely in the middle of the brittle machinery. 1976J. Snow Cricket Rebel 19 Having bowled a short ball at a batsman during one match he sarcastically patted the pitch almost in front of my feet. This is the proverbial red flag to a fast bowler. 1976‘D. Fletcher’ Don't whistle ‘Macbeth’ 212 The proverbial penny had dropped... It certainly made me very uncomfortable.
†3. Addicted to the use of proverbs. Obs.
1665R. Brathwait Comment Two Tales 138 He was a most Proverbial Jenkin, and could twit his testy Wife with store of such Proverbs as these.
†B. n.
a. One addicted to the use of proverbs.
b. A proverbial saying, a proverb. Obs.
1599Porter Angry Wom. Abingd. (Percy Soc.) 39 Why, what doth this prouerbial with vs? a1673J. Caryl in Spurgeon Treas. Dav. Ps. ii. 12 In our proverbials, to take a thing in snuff, is to take it in anger. 1778Learning at a Loss II. 157 A few more pretty Proverbials.
Hence proˈverbialism, a proverbial saying; also = proverbiality a.
1832W. Motherwell in A. Henderson Scottish Proverbs p. xiv, Zachary Boyd, Rector of Glasgow University, has..given quite a cento of common proverbialisms. 1846in Worcester, citing N. Amer. Rev. 1935Times Lit. Suppl. 14 Dec. 854/4 We pick them [sc. proverbs] up every now and then from great men's epigrammatic sayings and above all from books... This aspect of modern proverbialism should not be ignored. 1976Hiroshima Stud. Eng. Lang. and Lit. XXI. 72 His resort to such proverbialisms indicates his dependence on the world of experience. |