Part 626

3. A familiar illustration; a subject of contemptuous reference.

Thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a by word, among all nations.

Deut. xxviii. 37.

4. A drama exemplifying a proverb.

Book of Proverbs, a canonical book of the Old Testament, containing a great variety of wise maxims.

Syn. -- Maxim; aphorism; apothegm; adage; saw.

Prov"erb, v. t. 1. To name in, or as, a proverb. [R.]

Am I not sung and proverbed for a fool ?

Milton.

2. To provide with a proverb. [R.]

I am proverbed with a grandsire phrase.

Shak.

Prov"erb, v. i. To write or utter proverbs. [R.]

Pro*ver"bi*al (?), a. [L. proverbialis: cf. F. proverbial.] 1. Mentioned or comprised in a proverb; used as a proverb; hence, commonly known; as, a proverbial expression; his meanness was proverbial.

In case of excesses, I take the German proverbial cure, by a hair of the same beast, to be the worst.

Sir W. Temple.

2. Of or pertaining to proverbs; resembling a proverb. "A proverbial obscurity." Sir T. Browne.

Pro*ver"bi*al*ism (?), n. A proverbial phrase.

Pro*ver"bi*al*ist, n. One who makes much use of proverbs in speech or writing; one who composes, collects, or studies proverbs.

Pro*ver"bi*al*ize (?), v. t. & i. [Cf. F. proverbialiser.] To turn into a proverb; to speak in proverbs.

Pro*ver"bi*al*ly, adv. In a proverbial manner; by way of proverb; hence, commonly; universally; as, it is proverbially said; the bee is proverbially busy.

Pro*vex"i*ty (?), n. [L. provehere to advance. Cf. Provect.] Great advance in age. [Obs.]

Pro*vide" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Provided; p. pr. & vb. n. Providing.] [L. providere, provisum; pro before + videre to see. See Vision, and cf. Prudent, Purvey.] 1. To look out for in advance; to procure beforehand; to get, collect, or make ready for future use; to prepare. "Provide us all things necessary." Shak.

2. To supply; to afford; to contribute.

Bring me berries, or such cooling fruit As the kind, hospitable woods provide.

Milton.

3. To furnish; to supply; -- formerly followed by of, now by with. "And yet provided him of but one." Jer. Taylor. "Rome . . . was well provided with corn." Arbuthnot.

4. To establish as a previous condition; to stipulate; as, the contract provides that the work be well done.