aphorism
UK /ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/ · US /ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/ noun, verb
Forms aphorisms aphorisming aphorismed
- noun A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge; an axiom, a precept.
- noun (generally) A concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth; a maxim, a saying.
- noun (obsolete, rare) The essence or heart of something.
- verb (intransitive) To speak or write one or more aphorisms (noun sense 2).
Synonyms
adage apophthegm apothegm pearl of wisdom byword saying saw proverb maxim dictum gnome gnomic saying mantra paroemia
Etymology
The noun is derived from Late Middle English amphorisme, from Middle French aphorisme, afforisme (modern French aphorisme), from Medieval Latin aphorismus, aforismus, from Ancient Greek ᾰ̓φορῐσμός (ăphorĭsmós, “limitation; distinction, separation; definition; aphorism”), from ἀφορίζω (aphorízō, “to mark off a boundary; to define, determine; to distinguish, separate; etc.”) + -μός (-mós, suffix forming abstract nouns). Ἀφορίζω (Aphorízō) is from ᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-, prefix meaning ‘away; from; off’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó (“away; off”)) + ὁρίζω (horízō, “to delimit; to define; to determine; to divide, separate; etc.”) (from ὅρος (hóros, “boundary, limit; definition, term; etc.”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *werw- (“to draw; to mark out”)) + -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō, “suffix forming similative verbs”)).
The verb is derived from the noun.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A comprehensive maxim or principle expressed in a few words; a sharply defined sentence relating to abstract truth rather than to practical matters.
Etymology [F. aphorisme, fr. Gr. Horizon.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “aphorism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details