| 释义 |
prov·erb
I. \ˈpräˌvərb, -və̄b, -vəib sometimes -ä_və(r)b\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English proverbe, from Middle French, from Latin proverbium, from pro- before + verbum word — more at pro-, word
1.
a. : a brief epigrammatic saying that is a popular byword : an oft-repeated pithy and ingeniously turned maxim : adage, saw
< referred her to the proverb “marry in haste, repent at leisure” >
b. : a profound or oracular maxim; especially : a truth couched in obscure language : parable
2. : one (as a name or person) that has become a matter of common talk : byword
< proverbs for places no one could ever see — Manchester Guardian Weekly >
3. proverbs plural but singular or plural in construction : a game in which one player tries to guess a proverb that the others have chosen by asking questions and finding one word of the proverb in each answer
•
- to a proverb
II. transitive verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
1. obsolete : to provide with a proverb
< I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase — Shakespeare >
2. : to turn into a proverb or byword
< proverbed for a fool in every street — John Milton > |