PROVERBIAL

proverbial

(adjective) widely known and spoken of; “her proverbial lateness”; “the proverbial absentminded professor”; “your proverbial dizzy blonde”

proverbial

(adjective) of or relating to or resembling or expressed in a proverb; “he kicked the proverbial bucket”; “the proverbial grasshopper”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adjective

proverbial (comparative more proverbial, superlative most proverbial)

Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, cliché, fable, or fairy tale.

Not used in a literal sense, but as the subject of a well-known metaphor.

Widely known; famous; stereotypical.

Noun

proverbial (plural proverbials)

(euphemistic) Used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well-known phrase.

(euphemistic) The groin or the testicles.

Source: Wiktionary


Pro*ver"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. proverbialis: cf. F. proverbial.]

1. Mentioned or comprised in a proverb; used as a proverb; hence, commonly known; as, a proverbial expression; his meanness was proverbial. In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst. Sir W. Temple.

2. Of or pertaining to proverbs; resembling a proverb. "A proverbial obscurity." Sir T. Browne.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

9 May 2025

RIGHT

(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”


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Coffee Trivia

An article published in Harvard Men’s Health Watch in 2012 shows heavy coffee drinkers live longer. The researchers examined data from 400,000 people and found out that men who drank six or more coffee cups per day had a 10% lower death rate.

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