aphorism

[ af-uh-riz-uhm ]

/ ˈæf əˌrɪz əm /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR aphorism ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).

Origin of aphorism

1520–30; French aphorisme<Late Latin aphorismus<Greek aphorismós definition, equivalent to aphor(ízein) to define (see aphorize) + -ismos-ism

OTHER WORDS FROM aphorism

aph·o·ris·mic, aph·o·ris·mat·ic

[af-uh-riz-mat-ik], /ˌæf ə rɪzˈmæt ɪk/, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aphorism

adage, aphorism , apothegm, axiom, maxim, proverb

Words nearby aphorism

aphid, aphid lion, aphis, aphonia, aphonic, aphorism, aphorist, aphoristic, aphorize, aphotic, aphrasia

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for aphorism

He’s in his late 70s so he often speaks in aphorisms straight out of Mayberry USA.
Joe Biden Appealed To 2 Different Audiences In His Acceptance Speech – 2 Experts Discuss Which Punches Landed|LGBTQ-Editor|August 22, 2020|No Straight News
He left the crowd with a Greek aphorism—“to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”
Love Versus the ‘Liberal Gulag’|James Poulos|April 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thus my aphorism of the week: trying to contain damage only does more damage.
How to Stop a Scandal|Michael Tomasky|May 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He utters the aphorism in immaculate French, and judging from an overheard phone call, his Italian is almost as good.
NY Museum Stages First ‘Scent’ Exhibit|Blake Gopnik|November 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST

That aphorism by NYU professor Clay Shirky overstates the case, but only a little.
Why My Next E-Book Will Be About Iraq|David Frum|May 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The secret of literary prophecy lies deep inside that aphorism.
The Kaffeehaus Canon|George Prochnik|December 31, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We did not, however, stay long enough in the town to experience the truth of the aphorism.
Fair Italy, the Riviera and Monte Carlo|W. Cope Devereux
“Omne vivum ex vivo,” “all life from life,” was an aphorism of the naturalists of a century or two ago.
The Arena|Various
The direct application of an aphorism was unpopular at Raynham.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Complete|George Meredith
It ought to convey some great thought, some maxim or aphorism, or some such a thing as that.
Remarks|Bill Nye
Hence the aphorism so current, and generally attributed to Bacon, which affirms that knowledge is power.
Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will|Joseph Haven

British Dictionary definitions for aphorism

aphorism

/ (ˈæfəˌrɪzəm) /

noun

a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim

Derived forms of aphorism

aphorist, noun

Word Origin for aphorism

C16: from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, from aphorizein to define, set limits to, from horos boundary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for aphorism

aphorism

[ (af-uh-riz-uhm) ]

A concise and often witty statement of wisdom or opinion, such as “Children should be seen and not heard,” or “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.”

单词	aphorism
释义	aphorism [ af-uh-riz-uhm ] / ˈæf əˌrɪz əm / SEE SYNONYMS FOR aphorism ON THESAURUS.COM noun a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton). Origin of aphorism 1520–30; French aphorisme<Late Latin aphorismus<Greek aphorismós definition, equivalent to aphor(ízein) to define (see aphorize) + -ismos-ism OTHER WORDS FROM aphorism aph·o·ris·mic, aph·o·ris·mat·ic [af-uh-riz-mat-ik], /ˌæf ə rɪzˈmæt ɪk/, adjective WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aphorism adage, aphorism , apothegm, axiom, maxim, proverb Words nearby aphorism aphid, aphid lion, aphis, aphonia, aphonic, aphorism, aphorist, aphoristic, aphorize, aphotic, aphrasia Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for aphorism He’s in his late 70s so he often speaks in aphorisms straight out of Mayberry USA. Joe Biden Appealed To 2 Different Audiences In His Acceptance Speech – 2 Experts Discuss Which Punches Landed\|LGBTQ-Editor\|August 22, 2020\|No Straight News He left the crowd with a Greek aphorism—“to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.” Love Versus the ‘Liberal Gulag’\|James Poulos\|April 8, 2014\|DAILY BEAST Thus my aphorism of the week: trying to contain damage only does more damage. How to Stop a Scandal\|Michael Tomasky\|May 16, 2013\|DAILY BEAST He utters the aphorism in immaculate French, and judging from an overheard phone call, his Italian is almost as good. NY Museum Stages First ‘Scent’ Exhibit\|Blake Gopnik\|November 2, 2012\|DAILY BEAST That aphorism by NYU professor Clay Shirky overstates the case, but only a little. Why My Next E-Book Will Be About Iraq\|David Frum\|May 19, 2012\|DAILY BEAST The secret of literary prophecy lies deep inside that aphorism. The Kaffeehaus Canon\|George Prochnik\|December 31, 2010\|DAILY BEAST We did not, however, stay long enough in the town to experience the truth of the aphorism. Fair Italy, the Riviera and Monte Carlo\|W. Cope Devereux “Omne vivum ex vivo,” “all life from life,” was an aphorism of the naturalists of a century or two ago. The Arena\|Various The direct application of an aphorism was unpopular at Raynham. The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Complete\|George Meredith It ought to convey some great thought, some maxim or aphorism, or some such a thing as that. Remarks\|Bill Nye Hence the aphorism so current, and generally attributed to Bacon, which affirms that knowledge is power. Mental Philosophy: Including the Intellect, Sensibilities, and Will\|Joseph Haven British Dictionary definitions for aphorism aphorism / (ˈæfəˌrɪzəm) / noun a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim Derived forms of aphorism aphorist, noun Word Origin for aphorism C16: from Late Latin aphorismus, from Greek aphorismos definition, from aphorizein to define, set limits to, from horos boundary Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Words related to aphorism proverb, adage, dictum, axiom, maxim, saying, truism, apothegm, rule, precept, moral, saw Cultural definitions for aphorism aphorism [ (af-uh-riz-uhm) ] A concise and often witty statement of wisdom or opinion, such as “Children should be seen and not heard,” or “People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.” The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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aphorism

noun

Origin of aphorism

OTHER WORDS FROM aphorism

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH aphorism

Words nearby aphorism

Example sentences from the Web for aphorism

British Dictionary definitions for aphorism

noun

Derived forms of aphorism

Word Origin for aphorism

Words related to aphorism

Cultural definitions for aphorism