maxim
nounUK /ˈmæk.sɪm/ · US /ˈmæk.sɪm/
Etymology From Anglo-Norman maxime and Middle French maxime, from Late Latin maxima (“axiom”), noun use of the feminine singular form of Latin maximus (apparently as used in the phrase prōpositiō maxima (“greatest premise”)). Doublet of maxima.
1
Archaic A self-evident axiom or premise; a pithy expression of a general principle or rule.
2
A precept; a succinct statement or observation of a rule of conduct or moral teaching.
- In every age and country of the world men must have attended to the characters, designs, and actions of one another, and many reputable rules and maxims for the conduct of human life, must have been laid down and approved of by common consent.1776, Wealth of Nations, archived from the original on 26 Jun 2008, page 768:
- It was impossible to imagine anything more cold or comfortless, while it was a task of no small dexterity to thread your way through the labyrinth of trunks, bandboxes, &c.; for it had of late years become a maxim with Lady Anne that nothing ought to be thrown or given away:...1838 (date written), L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter V, in Lady Anne Granard; or, Keeping up Appearances. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], published 1842, →OCLC, page 42:
1 more example
- Those maxims lurch through my head like rivers of lava. Those smarmy, know-it-all maxims. Trivia disguised as deeply held wisdom.2024 May 6, Lt Flops, “Pursuing Ghosts, Part II”, in SCP Foundation, archived from the original on 02 Jun 2024:
- Derived terms
- maxim worker, Shannon's maxim, Skinner's maxim, submaxim, supermaxim