[af-uh-riz-uh
m] 
| a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton). |
| aph·o·rism (āf'ə-rĭz'əm) n.
[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. |
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.”