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byword

   Also found in: Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.
by·word also by-word  (bwûrd)
n.
1.
a. A proverbial expression; a proverb.
b. An often-used word or phrase.
2. One that represents a type, class, or quality: "Polyester got its déclassé reputation in the 1970s after cheap, poorly made double-knit leisure suits became a byword for bad taste" (Fortune).
3. An object of notoriety or interest: The eccentric poet was a byword in literary circles.
4. An epithet.

[Middle English byworde, from Old English bword, translation of Latin prverbium.]

byword [ˈbaɪˌwɜːd]
n
1. a person, place, or thing regarded as a perfect or proverbial example of something their name is a byword for good service
2. an object of scorn or derision
3. a common saying; proverb
[Old English bīwyrde; see by, word; compare Old High German pīwurti, from Latin prōverbium proverb]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.byword - a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"
Translations
byword [ˈbaɪwɜːd] N
1.sinónimo m
his name is a byword for successsu nombre es sinónimo de éxito
2. (= slogan) → palabra f de moda
byword [ˈbaɪwɜːrd] n
to be a byword for → être synonyme de (fig)
by-your-leave [ˌbaɪˈjəˈliːv] n
without so much as a by-your-leave → sans même demander la permission
byword [ˈbaɪˌwɜːd] n his name is a byword for successil suo nome è sinonimo di successo
byword [ˈbaɪˌwɜːd] n his name is a byword for successil suo nome è sinonimo di successo


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
I knew a wise man that had it for a byword, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion, Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner.
Every mistake was attributed to me, until "Makar Alexievitch" became a byword in our department.
There is no longer a Popish tyrant on the throne of England, and by to-morrow noon, his name shall be a byword in this very street, where ye would make it a word of terror.
 
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