The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (101 page)
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, with persistence a drop of water hollows out the stone; TIBULLUS
Elegies
I. iv. 18
longa dies molli saxa peredit aqua
, length of time eats away stones with soft water.
a
1250
Ancrene Wisse
(1962) 114
Lutle dropen thurleth (pierce) the flint the (that) ofte falleth theron.
>
c
1477
Jason
(EETS) 26
The stone is myned and holowed by contynuell droppyng of water.
1591
Henry VI, Pt.
3 III. ii. 50
He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.
1793
Extracts from Journals
III. ii.
The Negroes of Barbadoes .. are much less prepared for the reception of genuine religion. But constant dropping, 'tis said, will wear out a stone.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
I. vii.
As to Nell, constant dropping will wear away a stone, you know you may trust me as far as she is concerned.
1874
Uncle John
I. vi.
Constant dropping wears away a stone; constant flirtation saps the character.
1912
Letter
19 Dec. (1962) I. 169
She says a woman can only have one husband … Constant dropping will wear away a stone, as my mother used to say.
1931
Horror House
ii.
[They] were possessed of decided opinions and had no hesitancy in airing them. This produced more or less friction, and, like the continual dropping that wears away a stone, it had begun to react on the habitual goodness of the Baileys.
1963
Case of Mischievous Doll
vii.
The constant dripping water … can wear away the toughest stone.
persistence
, with persistence a drop of water hollows out the stone; TIBULLUSElegies
I. iv. 18
longa dies molli saxa peredit aqua
, length of time eats away stones with soft water.
a1250
Ancrene Wisse
(1962) 114
Lutle dropen thurleth (pierce) the flint the (that) ofte falleth theron.
>
c
1477
Jason
(EETS) 26
The stone is myned and holowed by contynuell droppyng of water.
1591
Henry VI, Pt.
3 III. ii. 50
He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.
1793
Extracts from Journals
III. ii.
The Negroes of Barbadoes .. are much less prepared for the reception of genuine religion. But constant dropping, 'tis said, will wear out a stone.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
I. vii.
As to Nell, constant dropping will wear away a stone, you know you may trust me as far as she is concerned.
1874
Uncle John
I. vi.
Constant dropping wears away a stone; constant flirtation saps the character.
1912
Letter
19 Dec. (1962) I. 169
She says a woman can only have one husband … Constant dropping will wear away a stone, as my mother used to say.
1931
Horror House
ii.
[They] were possessed of decided opinions and had no hesitancy in airing them. This produced more or less friction, and, like the continual dropping that wears away a stone, it had begun to react on the habitual goodness of the Baileys.
1963
Case of Mischievous Doll
vii.
The constant dripping water … can wear away the toughest stone.
persistence
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