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aphorism

noun
/ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/UK/ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/US

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.

  1. derived from *werw-✻ — “to draw; to mark out”
  2. derived from *h₂epó✻ — “away; off”
  3. derived from ᾰ̓φορῐσμός — “limitation; distinction, separation; definition; aphorism”
  4. derived from aphorismus
  5. derived from aphorisme
  6. inherited from amphorisme

Definitions

  1. A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge

    A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge; an axiom, a precept.

  2. A concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth

    A concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth; a maxim, a saying.

    • Is not thy common talke ſound Aphoriſmes?
    • '[T]is an old Aphoriſme, Oderunt omnes, quem metuunt [Everyone hates the one they fear].
    • […] Exiſtence is a perfection: Firſt it is palpably plain, according to that ſenſible Aphoriſm of Solomon, Better is a living Dog then a dead Lyon.

  3. The essence or heart of something.

    • VVe are novv to annexe the concluſion of the ſong, […] The partes are three. […] 3. A ſentence of acclamation, the aphoriſme and iuice of the vvhole ſonge, […]
  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. To speak or write one or more aphorisms (noun sense 2).

      • [T]here is no art that hath bin more canker'd in her principles, more ſoyl'd, and ſlubber'd vvith aphoriſming pedantry then the art of policie; […]

The neighborhood

Derived

aphorismer, aphorismic, aphorismical

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for aphorism. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA