axiom, adage, proverb

axiom, adage, proverb
An axiom is a universally accepted rule or principle or a self-evident truth: "There can be only one straight line between two points." "It is an axiom of economics that supply and demand are closely related." An adage is a statement given credit by long usage and general acceptance: "It never rains but it pours." "It is always darkest before the dawn." A proverb is a short saying, usually of unknown origin, that expresses a useful thought or commonplace truth: "A rolling stone gathers no moss." "A stitch in time saves nine." The general word saying embraces the meanings of these terms and also those of aphorism, maxim, apothegm, epigram, and motto.

Dictionary of problem words and expressions. . 1975.

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  • adage — See axiom. See axiom, adage, proverb …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • proverb — See axiom. See axiom, adage, proverb …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • axiom — See axiom, adage, proverb …   Dictionary of problem words and expressions

  • proverb — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. maxim, axiom, adage, precept, saying. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. maxim, adage, aphorism, precept, saw, saying, motto, dictum, text, witticism, repartee, axiom, truism, apothegm, byword, catch phrase, mot …   English dictionary for students

  • Adage — Ad age, n. [F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I say.] An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a proverb. [1913 Webster] Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat i the adage. Shak. [1913 Webster] Syn:… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • adage — [n] saying or proverb aphorism, apothegm, axiom, byword, dictum, maxim, motto, precept, saw; concept 276 …   New thesaurus

  • axiom — [n] principle adage, aphorism, apothegm, device, dictum, fundamental, law, maxim, moral, postulate, precept, proposition, proverb, saying, theorem, truism, truth; concepts 278,688,689 Ant. absurdity, ambiguity, foolishness, nonsense, paradox …   New thesaurus

  • proverb — [n] saying referring to common fact, knowledge adage, aphorism, apophthegm, axiom, byword, catch phrase, daffodil*, dictum, epigram, folk wisdom, gnome, maxim, moral, motto, platitude, precept, repartee, saw*, text, truism, witticism, word;… …   New thesaurus

  • adage — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. proverb, saw, saying, aphorism, motto, maxim. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. aphorism, saying, maxim; see proverb , saying . See Synonym Study at saying . III (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) n.… …   English dictionary for students

  • adage — noun I should have remembered the old adage look before you leap Syn: saying, maxim, axiom, proverb, aphorism, saw, dictum, byword, precept, motto, truism, platitude, cliché, apophthegm, commonplace …   Thesaurus of popular words

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