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maxim definition

maxim (mak′sim)

noun

a concisely expressed principle or rule of conduct, or a statement of a general truth

Etymology: ME maxime < MFr < ML maxima < LL maxima (propositio), the greatest (premise), fem. of L maximus, greatest, superl. of magnus, great: see magni-

Maxim1 definition

Maxim (mak′sim)

noun

an early, single-barreled, automatic machine gun
in full Maxim gun

Etymology: after Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim

Maxim2 definition

Maxim (mak′sim)

  1. Maxim, Hiram Percy 1869-1936; U.S. inventor: son of Sir Hiram
  2. Maxim, Sir Hiram Stevens 1840-1916; Brit. engineer & inventor of weapons & explosives, born in the U.S.
  3. Maxim, Hudson 1853-1927; U.S. chemist & inventor of explosives: brother of Sir Hiram

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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