Adage
An old, well-known saying that has acquired authority through long use.
An adage is a saying that has been repeated for so long it has gained the authority of received wisdom. The word comes from the Latin adagium, meaning a proverb or byword. In contemporary usage, adage is often a more dignified synonym for proverb, used when the speaker wants to underline that a saying has stood the test of time.
Erasmus's Adagia (1500) was a Renaissance bestseller, a curated collection of classical sayings that helped reshape European literacy. The book is the reason phrases like 'between a rock and a hard place' and 'to call a spade a spade' still circulate today.
Adages are vulnerable to the same problem as proverbs: their familiarity is mistaken for truth. The job of the careful writer is to ask whether the adage is still doing real work or simply waving from the page.
“The early bird catches the worm.”
Keep reading the glossary
A traditional saying that expresses a generally accepted truth — almost always anonymous.
A short, sharp statement that compresses a truth or observation into a single line.
A short rule for conduct, usually stated as a general principle.
A short, witty, often satirical statement built on a clever turn.