aphorism English · revision 1208

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|aphorisme]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la-lat|aphorismus]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|ἀφορισμός|tr=aphorismós|t=definition, pithy sentence]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''aphorízein'' “to mark off, define”,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[af|grc|ἀπό|ὁρίζω|tr1=apó|tr2=horízō|t1=from, off|t2=to bound]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[horizon]].^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A definition or concise statement of a principle in a science (1528),^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989) especially with reference to the ''Aphorisms'' of Hippocrates.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From about 1590 the word meant any short, pithy sentence expressing a general truth, a maxim.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Etymonline distinguishes it from an ''axiom'', a statement of self-evident truth, and from an ''epigram'', which lacks general import.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 14th century – Old French ''aufforisme''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1528 – a concise statement of a scientific principle.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * about 1590 – a short sentence containing a general truth; a maxim.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1627 – verb, to utter as an aphorism.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A short, pointed statement of a truth or opinion; an [[adage]] or [[maxim]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A brief statement of a principle, especially in a field of knowledge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[aphorist]]

+ * [[aphoristically]]

+ * [[aphoristic]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[horizon]]

+ * [[axiom]]

+ * [[epigram]]

+ * [[maxim]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Etymonline notes that ''maxim'' and ''saying'' can be synonyms of ''aphorism'', but maxims tend to be more practical, and sayings more commonplace and often attributed to a named author.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}