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Aphorism - 5 dictionary results

aph⋅o⋅rism

  [af-uh-riz-uhm]
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–noun
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).
Origin:
1520–30; F aphorisme < LL aphorismus < Gk aphorismós definition, equiv. to aphor(ízein) to define (see aphorize ) + -ismos -ism

Related forms:
aph⋅o⋅ris⋅mic, aph⋅o⋅ris⋅mat⋅ic  [af-uh-riz-mat-ik] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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aph·o·rism   (āf'ə-rĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage. See Synonyms at saying.
  2. A brief statement of a principle.

[French aphorisme, from Old French, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos, from aphorizein, to delimit, define : apo-, apo- + horizein, to delimit, define; see horizon.]
aph'o·rist n., aph'o·ris'tic (-rĭs'tĭk) adj., aph'o·ris'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Aphorism

Aph"o*rism\, n. [F. aphorisme, fr. Gr. ? definition, a short, pithy sentence, fr. ? to mark off by boundaries, to define; ? from + ? to separate, part. See Horizon.] A comprehensive maxim or principle expressed in a few words; a sharply defined sentence relating to abstract truth rather than to practical matters.

The first aphorism of Hippocrates is, "Life is short, and the art is long." --Fleming.

Syn: Axiom; maxim; adage; proverb; apothegm; saying; saw; truism; dictum. See Axiom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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aphorism [(af-uh-riz-uhm)]

A concise and often witty statement of wisdom or opinion, such as “Children should be seen and not heard,” or “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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aphorism 
1528 (especially in ref. to the "Aphorisms of Hippocrates"), from M.Fr. aphorisme, from L.L. aphorismus, from Gk. aphorismos "definition, pithy sentence," from aphorizein "to mark off, divide" apo- "from" + horizein "to bound." An aphorism is a short, pithy statement containing a truth of general import; an axiom is a statement of self-evident truth; a theorem is a demonstrable proposition in science or mathematics; an epigram is like an aphorism, but lacking in general import. Maxim and saying can be used as synonyms for aphorism.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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