What is the meaning of gutta cavat lapidem in Latin?

Read the Latin Dictionary meaning of gutta cavat lapidem,part of speech of gutta cavat lapidem, synonyms of gutta cavat lapidem, antonyms of gutta cavat lapidem, words derived from gutta cavat lapidem, examples of gutta cavat lapidem usage, alternate forms of gutta cavat lapidem, word forms of gutta cavat lapidem, history of gutta cavat lapidem, pronounciation of gutta cavat lapidem, abbreviation forms of gutta cavat lapidem below:

Latin Dictionary Word Meaning of gutta cavat lapidem

1.1 little strokes fell great oaks, slow and steady wins the race

Part of Speech - Latin Dictionary word gutta cavat lapidem

gutta cavat lapidem is a Proverb. A short, well-known saying expressing a general truth or piece of advice

Latin Dictionary Examples of Usage of gutta cavat lapidem

1.1 gutta cavat lapidem, consumitur anulus usu
In English: the drop bores the rock, the ring is worn out by use

History of gutta cavat lapidem

Literally, “the water drop bores through the rock”. Perhaps a loose calque of Ancient Greek πέτρην κοιλαίνει ῥανὶς ὕδατος ἐνδελεχείῃ (pétrēn koilaínei rhanìs húdatos endelekheíēi), a verse by fifth-century BCE poet Choerilus of Samos. Though the exact quoted words are first found in Ovid, the idea appears twice in Lucretius already: c. 99 BCE – 55 BCE, Lucretius, De rerum natura 4.1286–1287: nonne vides etiam guttas in saxa cadentis / umoris longo in spatio pertundere saxa? Don't you see, besides, how drops of water falling down against the stones at last bore through the stones?