proverbial
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a proverb.
proverbial brevity.
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expressed in a proverb or proverbs.
proverbial wisdom.
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of the nature of or resembling a proverb.
proverbial sayings.
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having been made the subject of a proverb.
the proverbial barn door which is closed too late.
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having become an object of common mention or reference.
your proverbial inability to get anywhere on time.
adjective
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(prenominal) commonly or traditionally referred to, esp as being an example of some peculiarity, characteristic, etc
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of, connected with, embodied in, or resembling a proverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of proverbial
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word prōverbiālis. See proverb, -al 1
Explanation
If something is proverbial, it's referred to in a familiar saying. If your little brother knocks over his milk and starts crying, you might think of the proverbial spilled milk. Proverb is the root of proverbial, and it comes from the Latin word proverbium, “a common saying.” Proverbs are little stories or expressions that usually teach a lesson, like "Don't cry over spilled milk," which means "It's a waste of time to be upset about something that can't be helped." You could say to your dog, "Well, aren't you the proverbial best friend?" or tell your sister, who's dyed her hair purple, "You stick out like the proverbial sore thumb."
Vocabulary lists containing proverbial
Bridge to Terabithia
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100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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Bronx Masquerade
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It became known as The Proverbial Experience, which Briggs describes as an “African-centered, womanist series of spiritual gatherings to nourish the soul.”
From Seattle Times • Apr. 28, 2024
When I asked what “naturally integrated information” might look like, he told me about the project of a classmate, John Kestner, called “The Proverbial Wallet.”
From The New Yorker • Apr. 4, 2017
At the MIT Media Lab’s Information Ecology Group, where they met and started collaborating, Kestner created the Proverbial Wallets, which connect up to banking information and respond in the physical world.
From Forbes • Dec. 2, 2011
When the Princess Royal married Prince Frederick of Prussia, she commanded lyrics from Tupper, and ordered him to the palace to present the bride & groom with specially bound copies of Proverbial Philosophy.
From Time Magazine Archive
I have known Tupper's "Proverbial Philosophy" to fill one of them to repletion, for the space of ten years!
From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 107, September, 1866 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
