byword

views updated Jun 11 2018

by·word / ˈbīˌwərd/ • n. a person or thing cited as a notorious and outstanding example or embodiment of something: his name became a byword for luxury. ∎ a word or expression summarizing a thing's characteristics or a person's principles: “Small is beautiful” may be the byword for most couturiers.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

byword

views updated May 23 2018

byword proverb XII; person etc. taken as typical XVI. Early ME. biword, preceded by late OE. bīwyrde = OHG. piwurti, rendering L. proverbium; see BY- and WORD.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD