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adage (n.)
"brief, familiar proverb," 1540s, French adage (16c.), from Latin adagium "adage, proverb," apparently a collateral form of adagio, from ad "to" (see ad-) + *agi-, root of aio "I say," which is perhaps cognate with Armenian ar-ac "proverb," asem "to say." But some find this unlikely and suggest the second element might be related to agein "set in motion, drive, urge" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). Related: Adagial.
updated on December 08, 2020
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Definitions of adage from WordNet
Dictionary entries near adage
ad infinitum
ad lib
ad nauseam
ad valorem
Ada
adage
adagio
Adam
Adam's apple
adamant
adamantine