Adage showing preference for a word of action (7)

I believe the answer is:

proverb

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'adage' is the definition.
(I know that adage can be written as proverb)

'for a word of action' is the wordplay.
'for' becomes 'pro' (as in being 'pro' something).
'a word of action' becomes 'verb' (I've seen this before).
'pro'+'verb'='PROVERB'

'showing preference' acts as a link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for proverb that I've seen before include "Short saying embodying a supposed truth" , "Short saying expressing a supposed truth" , "Generally true saying" , "Old saying, perhaps by Solomon?" , "Aphorism" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail and The Telegraph.

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