saying
UK: ˈseɪɪŋ | US: ˈseɪɪŋ
n. a short, commonly known expression or proverb
n. the act of expressing something in words
n. something said; a statement or remark
The word "saying" originates from the Old English "secgan," meaning "to speak." The suffix "-ing" was added to form a noun denoting the action or result of speaking. Over time, it evolved to refer to concise expressions or proverbs that encapsulate wisdom or common knowledge. The morphemes preserve the original spelling of "say" and the productive suffix "-ing," making it easy to recombine into the modern word.
"Actions speak louder than words" is a well-known saying.
She often quotes old sayings to illustrate her points.
His saying about patience has stuck with me for years.
The book collects traditional sayings from around the world.
There’s a saying in our family: "Always be kind."