aphorism en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- (General-American) audio
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.
Meanings
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A concise expression of a principle in an area of knowledge; an axiom, a precept.
[K]novvledge, vvhile it is in Aphoriſmes and obſeruations, it is in grovveth [growth]; but vvhen it once is comprehended in exact Methodes; it may perchance be further polliſhed and illuſtrate, and accommodated for vſe and practiſe; but it encreaſeth no more in bulke and ſubſtance.
1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], →OCLC, folio 34, verso:
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(qualifier:generally) A concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth; a maxim, a saying.
Is not thy common talke ſound Aphoriſmes?
1589–1592 (date written), Ch[ristopher] Marl[owe], The Tragicall History of D. Faustus. […], London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Thomas Bushell, published 1604, →OCLC, signature A2, verso:[…] 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.
1655, Henry More, “That Existence is a Term of Perfection, and therefore Necessarily Included in the Idea of a Being Absolutely Perfect, or of God”, in An Antidote against Atheism, or, An Appeal to the Naturall Faculties of the Minde of Man, whether There Be Not a God. … The Second Edition Corrected and Enlarged: With an Appendix thereunto Annexed., 2nd edition, London: […] J. Flesher, and are to be sold by William Morden […], →OCLC, book III, page 316:As the promoters expected the overall size of the rail market to expand, it demonstrated the aphorism that 'a rising tide lifts all the boats' associated with the belief that improved services benefit all the participants.
2024 March 20, Industry Insider [pseudonym], “Open-access Services”, in Rail, number 1005, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68:'[T]is an old Aphoriſme, Oderunt omnes, quem metuunt [Everyone hates the one they fear].
1642, James Howell, “Section VI”, in Instructions for Forreine Travell. […], London: […] T. B. for Humprey Mosley [i.e., Humphrey Moseley] […], →OCLC, page 85:Oppreſſion, according to Harrington [James Harrington?]'s aphoriſm, vvill be felt by thoſe that cannot ſee it; […]
1750 November 20 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. [68]. Friday, November 10. 1750.”, in The Rambler, volume III, Edinburgh: [[…] Sands, Murray, and Cochran]; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1750, →OCLC, page 125:
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(obsolete, rare) 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, […]
1594 (date delivered), John Kinge, “The XXIX. Lectvre. [Jonah] Chap[ter] 2. Ver[se] 8, & 9.”, in Lectvres vpon Ionas, Delivered at Yorke in the Yeare of Our Lorde 1594, revised edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Ioseph Barnes, […], published 1599, →OCLC, page 385:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| aphorisms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
aphorismic · aphorismer · aphorismical
Relateds
aphoristic · aphorismus · aphorist · tip
Synonyms
pearl of wisdom · gnome · paroemia · apophthegm · proverb · adage · mantra · dictum · adage · apophthegm · maxim · byword · apothegm · apothegm · saying · gnomic saying · saw
Translations (73)
fr aphorisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · th คำพังเพย (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sl aforizem (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi मसल (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ga seanrá (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · pl sentencja (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · it aforisma (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi नीतिवाक्य (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi अनुभवोक्ति (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · pl maksyma (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ga nathán (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · cs aforizmus (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · no aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · es aforismo (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi नीतिवचन (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · is spakmæli (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · uk афори́зм (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hu aforizma (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sh афорѝзам (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sq aforizëm (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi सुभाषित (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · mt aforiżmu (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ka აფორიზმი (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · gl aforismo (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ru афори́зм (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ko 격언 (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · is orðskviður (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ja 格言 (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · yi אַפֿאָריזם (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sk aforizmus (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sh aforìzam (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · is kjarnyrði (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi मक़ूला (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · kmr aforîzm (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · tr aforizm (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · oc aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi विसूत्र (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ia aphorismo (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ur مثل (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ca aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · id aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · fi ajatelma (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · nl aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · af aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi सिद्धांतवाक्य (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ur اکتی (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi सूक्ति (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · fi mietelause (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · el αφορισμός (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · da aforisme (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · lv aforisms (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · grc ἀφορισμός (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · cmn 格言 (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · fi aforismi (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · mi whakataukī (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · tl aporismo (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · pt aforismo (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · cs aforismus (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi सूत्र (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ast aforismu (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · ro aforism (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · sv aforism (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · de Aphorismus (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · lt aforizmas (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · mk афори́зам (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · bg афоризъм (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · am ጥቅሶች (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · he פִּתְגָּם (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · tr özdeyiş (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · be афары́зм (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · cy doethair (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · pl aforyzm (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying) · hi उक्ति (concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth — see also maxim, saying)