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Eminent vs Proverbial - What's the difference?

eminent | proverbial |

As adjectives the difference between eminent and proverbial

is that eminent is eminent; distinguished; noteworthy while proverbial is of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, , fable, or fairy tale.

As a noun proverbial is

(euphemistic) used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well-known phrase.

eminent

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (archaic) high, lofty; towering; prominent.
  • noteworthy, remarkable, great
  • His eminent good sense has been a godsend to this project.
  • of a person, distinguished, important, noteworthy
  • In later years, the professor became known as an eminent historian.

    Usage notes

    * Eminent and imminent are very similar sounds, and are weak rhymes; in some dialects, these may be confused. A typo of either word may result in a correction to the wrong word by spellchecking software. Eminent may also be confused with immanent, immanant, or emanate.

    Derived terms

    * eminence * eminently * preeminent

    proverbial

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of, resembling, or expressed as a proverb, , fable, or fairy tale.
  • * 1947 , ( transcript):
  • Doris: You're making me feel like the proverbial stepmother.
  • Widely known; famous; stereotypical.
  • I grew up in a prefab house on Main Street in 1950s suburbia, the second and last child of a proverbial nuclear family.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (euphemistic) Used to replace a word that might be considered unacceptable in a particular situation, when using a well-known phrase.
  • I think we should be prepared in case the proverbial hits the fan.
  • (euphemistic) The groin or the testicles.