aphorism

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/ Hyphenation: aph‧or‧i‧sm === Noun === aphorism (plural aphorisms) A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge; an axiom, a precept. (generally) A concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth; a maxim, a saying. Synonyms: adage; apophthegm, apothegm; pearl of wisdom; see also Thesaurus:saying (obsolete, rare) The essence or heart of something. ==== Derived terms ==== aphorismer (obsolete) aphorismic aphorismical (rare) ==== Related terms ==== aphorismus aphorist aphoristic ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== tip Category:English aphorisms === Verb === aphorism (third-person singular simple present aphorisms, present participle aphorisming, simple past and past participle aphorismed) (intransitive) To speak or write one or more aphorisms (noun sense 2). ==== Derived terms ==== aphorisming (adjective) ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === aphorism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “aphorism”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “aphorism”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. “aphorism”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.