maxim

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Max=im

CIDE DICTIONARY

maxim, 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.].

•  An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism.  [1913 Webster]

  "'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward."  [1913 Webster]
•  The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large.  [1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See Axiom.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

maxim, 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)

THESAURUS

maxim

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

ROGET THESAURUS

maxim

Precept

N precept, direction, instruction, charge, prescript, prescription, recipe, receipt, golden rule, maxim, rule, canon, law, code, corpus juris, lex scripta, act, statute, rubric, stage direction, regulation, form, formula, formulary, technicality, canon law, norm, order.

Maxim

N maxim, aphorism, apothegm, apophthegm, dictum, saying, adage, saw, proverb, sentence, mot, motto, word, byword, moral, phylactery, protasis, axiom, theorem, scholium, truism, postulate, first principles, a priori fact, assumption (supposition), reflection, conclusion, golden rule, principle, principia, profession of faith, settled principle, accepted principle, formula, accepted fact, received truth, wise maxim, sage maxim, received maxim, admitted maxim, recognized maxim, true saying, common saying, hackneyed saying, trite saying, commonplace saying, aphoristic, proverbial, phylacteric, axiomatic, gnomic, as the saying goes, as the saying is, as they say.