Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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}.

Source : WordNet®

adage
     n : a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important
         fact of experience that is taken as true by many people
         [syn: {proverb}, {saw}, {byword}]