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.
Proverbs 31:8 reminds us to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 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
He said the title of the book comes from Proverbs 16:18, which says “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
From Washington Times ● May 28, 2023
When his father started to read from Proverbs, Turner was surprised at how many verses about rebellious children he had been able to collect on such short notice.
From "Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
