maxim
Use Maxim in a sentence
sɪm noun
1.
an expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one: the maxims of La Rochefoucauld.
2.
a principle or rule of conduct.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English maxime ≪ Medieval Latin maxima (orig. in phrase maxima prōpositiō axiom, literally, greatest proposition), noun use of feminine of Latin maximus, superlative of magnus great; see much
1400–50; late Middle English maxime ≪ Medieval Latin maxima (orig. in phrase maxima prōpositiō axiom, literally, greatest proposition), noun use of feminine of Latin maximus, superlative of magnus great; see much
00:10
Maxim
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To maxim
Collins
World English Dictionary
maxim (ˈmæksɪm) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct | |
| [C15: via French from Medieval Latin, from maxima, in the phrase maxima prōpositio basic axiom (literally: greatest proposition); see | |
| Maxim (ˈmæksɪm) | |
| —n | |
| Sir Hiram Stevens. 1840--1916, British inventor of the first automatic machine gun (1884), born in the US | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
maxim
"precept, principle," 1426, from M.Fr. maxime, from L.L. maxima, usually in maxima propositio "axiom," lit. "greatest premise," 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).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences from the web
For further discussion see the main articles pragmaticism and pragmatic maxim.
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