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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

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

maxim Synonyms

maxim

n.

aphorism, adage, saying, epithet; see proverb, saying. See syn. study at saying.

maxim Law Definition

n

A key principle of law that has been repeated so often it has become a commonplace expression.
maxim Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • action: Which maxims of action should be deemed unjust is therefore left rather undefined by the test in most cases.
  • law: Each of the articles appears as a maxim of a universal law.
  • quantity: These are commonly explained as arising from violations of the maxim of quantity.
  • wisdom: Amid its maxims of holy wisdom it would he impossible to discover whether Owen was a Congregationalist or a Presbyterian.
  • conversation: The audience needn't have any sense that the speaker is not trying to follow the maxims of conversation.
  • morality: Undoubtedly neither this nor any other maxim of political morality is absolutely inviolable; it may be overruled by still more cogent considerations.

Converse of object

  • apply: The general law provides that for the buyer of a property the maxim applied is " CAVEAT EMPTOR " or " BUYER BEWARE!
  • remember: However, remember the maxim " let the buyer beware " .
  • follow: Letâs follow the old maxim: work smarter, not harder.
  • know: Jesus's reply was simply a well known maxim of the Pharisees.
  • use: Many people use the old maxim that over 100 years old means it is antique.
  • have: The Reagan government had two maxims: firstly, always have a bad guy, and secondly, when in trouble change the subject.

Adjective modifier

  • conversational: Conversational maxims The " success " of a conversation depends upon the various speakers ' approach to the interaction.
  • old: Actions louder than words The old maxim about actions speaking louder than words also applies here.
  • moral: Examples of moral maxims which have been applied to animal production are " the 5 freedoms " .
  • favorite: His favorite maxim of justification was a line from Milton: By the known rules of ancient liberty.
  • famous: I suggest an adaptation of Henry Ford's famous courtroom maxim is appropriate - The future is bunk.
  • ancient: This book differs from the ' usual ' book in that it examines the application of ancient military maxims to the game.

Modifies a noun

  • gun: A view showing maxim guns tied down in a barge.

Noun used with modifier

  • newsstand: The rest of chapters deal with the newsstand maxim.
maxim Quotes

The spirit that now resists your taxation in America is†the same spirit that established the great fundamental, essential maxim of your libertiesöthat no subject of England shall betaxed but byhis ownconsent. The glorious spirit of Whiggismanimates three million in America, who prefer poverty with liberty to gilded chains and sordid affluence; and who will die in defence of their rights as men, as free men.

—Pitt,William, 1st Earl of Chatham known as  the Elder

That grounded maxim So rife and celebrated in the mouths Of wisest men; that to the public good Private respects must yield.

—Milton,John

Whatever happens, we have got The Maxim Gun, and they have not.

—Belloc, (Joseph) Hilaire Pierre

Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it Macaulay down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till theyare fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story, who resolved not to go into the water till he had learnt to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait for ever.

—1st Baron

It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to makethantobuy.Thetaylordoesnot attempttomakehis ownshoe†All ofthemfind itfor their interestto employ their whole industry in a way in which they have some advantage over their neighbours and to purchase with a part of its produce†whatever else they have occasion for† What is prudence in the conduct of every private family, can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom† Would it be a reasonable law to prohibit the importation of all foreign wines, merely to encourage the making of claret and burgundy in Scotland?

—Smith, Adam

Every manwho has seen the world knowsthat nothing is so useless as a general maxim.

—1st Baron

Ich solle niemals anders verfahren, als so, dass ich auch wollen k o« nne, meine Maxime solle ein allgemeines Gesetz werden. I ought never to act except in such a way that I can also will that my maxim should become a universal law.

—Kant, Immanuel