proverb
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
proverb/ˈprɒvɜːb/
▶noun a short pithy saying in general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.
– origin ME: from OFr. proverbe, from L. proverbium, from pro- ‘(put) forth’ + verbum ‘word’.
'proverb' also found in these Oxford entries:
