maxim
pronunciation
How to pronounce maxim in British English:
UK [ˈmæksɪm]
How to pronounce maxim in American English:
US [ˈmæksɪm]
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- Noun:
- a saying that widely accepted on its own merits
Word Origin
- maxim (n.)
- "precept, principle," early 15c., from Middle French maxime, from Late Latin maxima, shortened from phrases such as maxima propositio, maxima sententarium "axiom," literally "greatest premise, greatest among propositions" (one which is general and absolute), from fem. of maximus "greatest" (see maximum).
- Maxim
- single-barreled water-cooled machine gun, 1885, named for inventor, U.S.-born British engineer Sir Hiram S. Maxim (1840-1916).
Example
- 1. The old maxim even applies to coal mining companies .
- 2. People implicitly follow the maxim : do what I say , not what I do .
- 3. The market turmoil of the past few weeks is proving that maxim , albeit in novel and interesting ways .
- 4. Philosopher socrates has even made this his personal maxim .
- 5. This reflects the maxim that equity rallies typically precede an economic rebound by roughly six months .