English Explanatory Dictionary

all roads lead to Rome

English dictionary entry

Meanings

proverb
  1. Different paths can take one to the same goal.

Pronunciation

[ɑlː ɹɔʊds liːd̥ tʰɪu̯ː ɹɔʊm] LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-all roads lead to Rome.wav

Word forms

all roads lead to Rome

Etymology

Modern wording of medieval sentiment; apparently originally a reference to Roman roads generally and the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) specifically. Appears in the Latin form mīlle viae dūcunt hominēs per saecula Rōmam (“a thousand roads lead men forever to Rome”) in Liber Parabolarum, 591 (1175), by Alain de Lille. The earliest English form appears to be “right as diverse pathes leden the folk the righte wey to Rome”, in A Treatise on the Astrolabe (Prologue, ll. 39–40), 1391, by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Synonyms

all roads lead to Mecca there's more than one way to skin a cat all roads lead to Sydney

Related words

Rome wasn't built in a day
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