Maxim

Pronunciation: /ˈmæk.sɪm/

Definitions of maxim

noun A short statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct.

Example Sentences

A1 My grandmother always lived by the maxim 'waste not, want not'.

A2 The maxim 'practice makes perfect' is commonly used in language learning.

B1 One maxim to live by is 'treat others as you would like to be treated'.

B2 The maxim 'time is money' is often quoted in business settings.

C1 Many philosophers have written about the importance of following moral maxims.

C2 In her speech, the politician referenced a famous maxim from a historical figure.

Examples of maxim in a Sentence

formal The maxim 'honesty is the best policy' is often quoted in ethical discussions.

informal My grandma's favorite maxim is 'early to bed, early to rise'.

slang I live by the maxim 'YOLO' - you only live once.

figurative In chess, the maxim 'control the center' is crucial for a successful game.

Grammatical Forms of maxim

• plural: maxims
• comparative: more maxim
• superlative: most maxim
• present tense: maxim
• future tense: will maxim
• perfect tense: has maximed
• continuous tense: is maximing
• singular: maxim
• positive degree: maxim
• infinitive: to maxim
• gerund: maximing
• participle: maximed

Origin and Evolution of maxim

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'maxim' originated from the Latin word 'maxima' which means 'greatest' or 'largest'. It was later adapted into Old French as 'maxime' before entering the English language.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in philosophy and ethics to refer to a concise statement of a general truth or rule of conduct, the word 'maxim' has evolved to also be used in everyday language to describe a principle or rule of action.