proverbium

prōverbĭum, ĭi, n. [pro-verbum].

I.

An old saying, a saw, maxim, adage, proverb (class.;

syn. adagium): ex quo illud factum est jam tritum sermone proverbium, etc.,

Cic. Off. 1, 10, 33; cf. id. ib. 3, 19, 77:

in proverbii consuetudinem venire,

id. ib. 2, 15, 55:

illud in proverbium venit,

Liv. 40, 46:

quod est Graecis hominibus in proverbio,

Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 20, § 53; id. Or. 70, 235:

quod proverbii loco dici solet,

id. Phil. 13, 12, 27:

proverbii locum obtinere,

id. Tusc. 4, 16, 36:

vulgare,

id. Fam. 10, 20, 2:

acta agimus, quod vetamur veteri proverbio,

id. Lael. 22, 85:

ut proverbium loquitur vetus,

Amm. 14, 11, 12.—In plur.:

in communibus proverbiis,

Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 46, § 121:

proverbia opportune aptata,

Quint. 6, 3, 97. —

II.

A byword, a subject of contemptuous reference (post-class.):

et eris perditus in proverbium,

Vulg. Deut. 28, 37; id. 3 Reg. 9, 7.