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.