Latin edit

Etymology edit

Derived from prō- (for, on behalf of) +‎ verbum (word) +‎ -ium (nominal suffix).

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

prōverbium n (genitive prōverbiī or prōverbī); second declension

  1. proverb, saying, saw, maxim, adage

Declension edit

Second-declension noun (neuter).

Case Singular Plural
Nominative prōverbium prōverbia
Genitive prōverbiī
prōverbī1
prōverbiōrum
Dative prōverbiō prōverbiīs
Accusative prōverbium prōverbia
Ablative prōverbiō prōverbiīs
Vocative prōverbium prōverbia

1Found in older Latin (until the Augustan Age).

Descendants edit

References edit

  • proverbium”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • proverbium”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • proverbium in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
  • Carl Meißner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book[1], London: Macmillan and Co.
    • as the proverb says: ut est in proverbio
    • to pass into a proverb: in proverbii consuetudinem or simply in proverbium venire
    • to be used as a proverb: proverbii locum obtinere (Tusc. 4. 16. 36)
    • this is a proverb among the Greeks: hoc est Graecis hominibus in proverbio
    • that Greek proverb contains an excellent lesson: bene illo Graecorum proverbio praecipitur
    • an old proverb tells us not to..: vetamur vetere proverbio
    • an old proverb which every one knows: proverbium vetustate or sermone tritum (vid. sect. II. 3, note tritus...)
  • proverbium”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898) Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers