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The definition of maxim is a statement of a philosophy or a guiding principle.

(noun)

An example of a maxim is to do unto others as you want others to do unto you.

See maxim in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

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

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

noun

an early, single-barreled, automatic machine gun

in full Maxim gun

Origin: after Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim

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

See maxim in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A succinct formulation of a fundamental principle, general truth, or rule of conduct. See Synonyms at saying.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English maxime

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin maxima

Origin: , from maxima (prōpositiō), greatest (premise)

Origin: , feminine of Latin maximus, greatest; see meg- in Indo-European roots

American-born British inventor of an automatic, recoil-operated machine gun (1884), which was widely used during World War I. His brother Hudson (1853-1927) invented smokeless gun powder, and his son Hiram Percy (1896-1936) developed a silencer for firearms.

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