Proverbs and dictionaries of proverbs in Urdu

Abstract

Proverbs are found in almost every language and, as defined by Oxford Encyclopedic English Dictionary, a proverb is "a short pithy saying in general use, held to embody a general truth". Hence, proverbs have wisdom and also reflect social milieu. Proverbs from different eras can also help analyze linguistic variation as it occurs with time. In Urdu dictionaries, proverbs are found in abundance as they are considered to be an integral part of an Urdu dictionary. Also, some special dictionaries or glossaries enlisting Urdu proverbs and their meanings have also been compiled and published. This article traces and analyses dictionaries of Urdu proverbs published over the last two hundred years or so.