maxim

[mak-sim] /ˈmæk 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
Can be confused
adage, aphorism, apothegm, axiom, maxim, proverb.
Synonyms
1. aphorism, saying, adage, apothegm. See proverb.

Maxim

[mak-sim; for 4 also French mak-seem, Russian muh-ksyeem] /ˈmæk sɪm; for 4 also French makˈsim, Russian mʌˈksyim/
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.
Examples from the web for maxim
  • For further discussion see the main articles pragmaticism and pragmatic maxim.
British Dictionary definitions for maxim

maxim

/ˈmæksɪm/
noun
1.
a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct
Word Origin
C15: via French from Medieval Latin, from maxima, in the phrase maxima prōpositio basic axiom (literally: greatest proposition); see maximum

Maxim

/ˈmæksɪm/
noun
1.
Sir Hiram Stevens. 1840–1916, British inventor of the first automatic machine gun (1884), born in the US
Word Origin and History for maxim
n.

"precept, principle," early 15c., from Middle French maxime, from Late Latin maxima, shortened from phrases such as maxima propositio, maxima sententarium "axiom," literally "greatest premise, greatest among propositions" (one which is general and absolute), from 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).