maxim

¹

[ mak-sim ]

noun

1. an expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one:

   the maxims of La Rochefoucauld.

   Synonyms: apothegm, adage, saying, aphorism

2. a principle or rule of conduct.

Maxim

²

[ mak-sim; French mak-seem, Russian muh-ksyeem ]

noun

1. Hiram Percy, 1869–1936, U.S. inventor.
2. his father Sir Hiram Stevens, 1840–1916, English inventor, born in the U.S.: inventor of the Maxim gun.
3. Hudson, 1853–1927, U.S. inventor and explosives expert (brother of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim).
4. a male given name, form of Maximilian.

maxim

¹

/ ˈmæksɪm /

noun

1. a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct

Maxim

²

/ ˈmæksɪm /

noun

1. MaximSir Hiram Stevens18401916MBritishUSTECHNOLOGY: inventor Sir Hiram Stevens. 1840–1916, British inventor of the first automatic machine gun (1884), born in the US

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxim¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English maxime ultimately from Medieval Latin maxima (originally in the phrase maxima prōpositiō “axiom,” literally, “greatest proposition”), noun use of feminine of Latin maximus, superlative of magnus “great”; much

Word History and Origins

Origin of maxim¹

C15: via French from Medieval Latin, from maxima, in the phrase maxima prōpositio basic axiom (literally: greatest proposition); see maximum

Synonym Study

See proverb.

Example Sentences

Morgan was impatient with acquaintances who wished to compress all these considerations into a single all-purpose maxim.

From Los Angeles Times

When it comes to marmalade sandwiches — and now, “Paddington” movies — a maxim that my grandfather used to apply to martinis comes to mind: One is not enough and three is too many.

From Los Angeles Times

One of his maxims: “The bug is in the crowd.”

From Los Angeles Times

Those in recovery from addiction will know the maxim about sobriety: "To keep it you have to give it away."

From BBC

These days, observers may question the accuracy of that maxim — preservationists have made great strides in recent decades — but a devastating new truth has emerged amid the ashes this week.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adage
• aphorism
• axiom
• dictum
• motto
• proverb
• theorem