One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Definition of paroemiac in US English:
paroemiac
noun
Ancient Greek Prosody. The short line with which an anapaestic system usually ends.
adjective
Ancient Greek Prosody. Of, relating to, or designating verse which ends with a paroemiac.
Origin
Late 17th century; earliest use found in Richard Bentley (1662–1742), philologist and classical scholar. As noun from Hellenistic Greek παροιμιακόν the short line with which an anapaestic system usually ends, use as noun (short for παροιμιακὸν μέτρον) of neuter of παροιμιακός (adjective); as adjective from Hellenistic Greek παροιμιακός proverbial from ancient Greek παροιμία + -ακός.