Proverbs
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of Proverbs
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French proverbes, from Late Latin Prōverbia (Salomōnis, Solomōnis), translation of Hebrew mishlē (Shĕlōmōh) “Proverbs (of Solomon)”
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.
A sermon titled “Forged,” part of a summerlong journey through the Book of Proverbs, was taking shape somewhere between his own notes and a handful of AI chatbots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
The milkshake cup features Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2025
The King James Bible is loaded with memorable analogies, and one of the most vivid is from Proverbs: “As a dog returneth to its vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.”
From New York Times ● Aug. 17, 2023
The King will pray aloud using words inspired from the hymn I vow to thee my country and from the biblical books of Galatians and Proverbs.
From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2023
Like the writers of Proverbs the authors seem old; they are men of experience who have meditated on human affairs.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
