Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle EnglishCategory:English terms inherited from Middle English#APHORISMCategory:English terms derived from Middle English#APHORISM amphorisme,^[1] from Middle FrenchCategory:English terms derived from Middle French#APHORISM aphorisme, afforisme (modern French aphorisme), from Medieval LatinCategory:English terms derived from Medieval Latin#APHORISM aphorismus, aforismus, from Ancient GreekCategory:English terms derived from Ancient Greek#APHORISM 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).^[2] Ἀφορίζω (Aphorízō) is from ᾰ̓πο- (ăpo-, prefix meaning ‘away; from; off’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-EuropeanCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#APHORISM *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-EuropeanCategory:English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#APHORISM *werw- (“to draw; to mark out”)) + -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō, “suffix forming similative verbs”)).

The verb is derived from the noun.^[3]

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæfəɹɪz(ə)m/Category:English 4-syllable words#APHORISMCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#APHORISM

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#APHORISM
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæfəˌɹɪzəm/Category:English 4-syllable words#APHORISMCategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#APHORISM

• Audio (General American):

  (file)

  Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#APHORISM
• Hyphenation: aph‧or‧i‧sm

Noun

aphorism (plural aphorisms)Category:English lemmas#APHORISMCategory:English nouns#APHORISMCategory:English countable nouns#APHORISMCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#APHORISMCategory:Pages with entries#APHORISMCategory:Pages with 1 entry#APHORISM

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

     [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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

3. (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

   • 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:

     Is not thy common talke ſound Aphoriſmes?

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1642, James Howell, “Section VI”, in Instructions for Forreine Travell. […], London: […] T. B. for Humprey Mosley [i.e., Humphrey Moseley] […], →OCLC, page 85:

     '[T]is an old Aphoriſme, Oderunt omnes, quem metuunt [Everyone hates the one they fear].

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 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:

     […] 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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1750 November 21 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. [68]. Saturday, 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:

     Oppreſſion, according to Harrington [James Harrington?]'s aphoriſm, vvill be felt by thoſe that cannot ſee it; […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 2024 March 20, Industry Insider [pseudonym], “Open-access Services”, in Rail, number 1005, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 68:

     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.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

4. (obsoleteCategory:English terms with obsolete senses#APHORISM, rareCategory:English terms with rare senses#APHORISM) The essence or heart of something.
   • 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:

     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, […]

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

Verb

aphorism (third-person singular simple present aphorisms, present participle aphorisming, simple past and past participle aphorismed)Category:English lemmas#APHORISMCategory:English verbs#APHORISMCategory:English entries with incorrect language header#APHORISMCategory:Pages with entries#APHORISMCategory:Pages with 1 entry#APHORISM

1. (intransitiveCategory:English intransitive verbs#APHORISM) To speak or write one or more aphorisms (noun sense 2).
   • 1627 (date written), E. F. [pseudonym; Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland], The History of the Life, Reign, and Death of Edward II. King of England, and Lord of Ireland. […], London: […] J. C. for Charles Harper […]; Samuel Crouch […]; and Thomas Fox, […], published 1680, →OCLC, page 63:

     Theſe paſſages diſcours'd and Aphoriſm'd at large in the Houſe; at the private Committee, divers fouler ſuſpitions and aggravations are treated vvith a greater freedom; vvhich being again vvith their ſeveral proofs reported before the vvhole Body, by the general doom he is pronounced guilty.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1641 May, John Milton, “The Second Book”, in Of Reformation Touching Church-Discipline in England: And the Causes that hitherto have Hindred it. […], [London]: […] Thomas Vnderhill, →OCLC, page 42:

     [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; […]

     An adjective use.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1970, Arthur Schnitzler, “Book Three: September 1879 to July 1882”, in Catherine Hutter, transl., My Youth in Vienna, New York, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, →ISBN, page 95:

     Since the three of us were interested in poetizing, or at least in writing, we invested in a red leather notebook which was to be passed back and forth between us and be filled with our notes and aphorisms. But after each of us had inscribed his share (once I robbed my Aegidius for the purpose), our literary union was over; each of us tore his contribution out of the book and "aphorismed" on his own from then on.

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1978, Vikram Kapur, The Traumatic Bite, New Delhi: Vision Books, →OCLC, page 32:

     He was thoughtful: "Preferences define superiority," he aphorismed. "As long as preferences are not made godly edicts. […]"

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

   • 1979, Arthur Herzog, “President AALCE”, in Glad to Be Here (His America Series; II), [United States]: [Leslie Mandel Enterprises?], published 2003, →ISBN, page 146:

     "I don't know what more to do," she confessed. "I've aphorismed my heart out and relationships have not improved one whit, it seems."

     Category:English terms with quotations#APHORISM

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.