I. ˈprä-ˌvərb noun
Etymology: Middle English proverbe, from Anglo-French, from Latin proverbium, from pro- + verbum word — more at word
Date: 14th century
1. : a brief popular epigram or maxim : adage
2. : byword 4
II. transitive verb
Date: 14th century
1. : to speak of proverbially
2. obsolete : to provide with a proverb