Adage
/ˈædɪdʒ/
nounBeginnerCommonScience
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
A proverb or short, popular saying expressing a common truth or piece of advice.
/ˈædɪdʒ/
nounneutralBeginner
Science
A traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation.
He lived by the adage, 'Look before you leap'.
💡 Simply: A wise saying that people have known for a long time.
More Examples
2
That's an old adage, but it's still true.
How It's Used
Literary
"The old adage 'a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush' is still relevant today."
Proverbs
"Many adages offer guidance on how to live a good life."
From Old French *adage, from Latin adagium, from adagium "proverb", from ad- "to" + agere "to do, drive, lead".
Adages have been used throughout history to convey cultural values and beliefs, often appearing in literature and folklore.
Memory tip
Think 'add age' – adding wisdom with age.
Practice
addageadagee
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written