Adage

Ad"age (?), n. [F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I say.] An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a proverb.

Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would,"
Like the poor cat i' the adage.
Shak.

Syn. -- Axiom; maxim; aphorism; proverb; saying; saw; apothegm. See Axiom.