Adjacent Words

Maxim definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MAX'IM, n. [L. maximum, literally the greatest.]
1. An established principle or proposition; a principle generally received or admitted as true. It is nearly the same in popular usage, as axiom in philosophy and mathematics.
It is a maxim of state, that countries newly acquired and not settled, are matters of burden, rather than of strength.
It is their maxim, love is love's reward.
2. In music, the longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits [syn: maxim, axiom]
2: English inventor (born in the United States) who invented the Maxim gun that was used in World War I (1840-1916) [syn: Maxim, Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English maxime, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin maxima, from Latin, feminine of maximus, superlative of magnus large — more at much Date: 1567 1. a general truth, fundamental principle, or rule of conduct 2. a proverbial saying

Merriam Webster's

I. biographical name Sir Hiram Stevens 1840-1916 British (American-born) inventor II. biographical name Hudson 1853-1927 brother of Sir Hiram American inventor

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a general truth or rule of conduct expressed in a sentence. Etymology: ME f. F maxime or med.L maxima (propositio), fem. adj. (as MAXIMUM)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Maxim Max"im, n. [F. maxime, L. maxima (sc. sententia), the greatest sentence, proposition, or axiom, i. e., of the greatest weight or authority, fem. fr. maximus greatest, superl. of magnus great. See Magnitude, and cf. Maximum.] 1. An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism. 'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward. --Dryden. 2. (Mus.) The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large. Syn: Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See Axiom.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(maxims) A maxim is a rule for good or sensible behaviour, especially one in the form of a saying. I believe in the maxim 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Proverb, saying, saw, adage, aphorism, apothegm, dictum, by-word, sententious precept, axiom.

Moby Thesaurus

Procrustean law, a belief, adage, aphorism, apophthegm, apothegm, article of faith, axiom, brocard, byword, canon, cliche, code, commandment, commonplace, convention, criterion, dictum, doctrine, dogma, epigram, form, formality, formula, formulary, general principle, gnome, golden rule, guideline, guiding principle, imperative, law, law of nature, mitzvah, moral, mot, motto, norm, norma, order of nature, ordinance, platitude, precept, prescribed form, prescript, prescription, principium, principle, proverb, regulation, rubric, rule, rule of thumb, saw, saying, set form, settled principle, slogan, standard, standing order, teaching, tenet, theorem, truism, universal law, witticism, working principle, working rule