byword

English

Etymology

From Middle English byworde (“proverb”), from Old English bīword, bīwyrde (“proverb, household word", also "adverb”), from bī- (“by-”) + word (“word”); probably a translation of Latin proverbium. Compare also Old High German pīwurti (“proverb”), Old English bīspel (“proverb, example”), bīcwide (“byword, proverb, tale, fable”). More at byspel.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈbʌɪwəːd/

Noun

byword (plural bywords)

1. a proverb or proverbial expression, common saying; a frequently used word or phrase
2. a person who, or a thing that represents something with specified characteristics, byspel
3. An object of notoriety or contempt.
   • 1890, Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray, ch. XII:

     "I know you and Harry are inseparable. Surely for that reason, if for none other, you should not have made his sister's name a by-word."

4. a nickname or epithet
5. (by extension) an object of scorn or derision

Translations

a proverb

• Bulgarian: поговорка (bg) (pogovorka)
• Estonian: vanasõna (et)
• French: proverbe (fr) m

• German: Sprichwort (de) n
• Russian: поговорка (ru) (pogovórka) f, притча во языцех (ru) (prítča vo jazýcex) f

a person who, represents something

• Bulgarian: нарицателно (bg) (naricatelno) n, олицетворение (bg) (olicetvorenie) n

• Estonian: isiksus (et)
• Maori: mūrau (mi)