maxim: Meaning and Definition of

max•im

Pronunciation: (mak'sim), [key]
— n.
  1. an expression of a general truth or principle, esp. an aphoristic or sententious one: the maxims of La Rochefoucauld.
  2. a principle or rule of conduct.

Max•im

Pronunciation: (mak'sim for 4 also Fr. mak&sylpsēm', Russ. mu&sylpksyēm'), [key]
— n.
  1. 1869–1936, U.S. inventor.
  2. his father,1840–1916, English inventor, born in the U.S.: inventor of the Maxim gun.
  3. 1853–1927, U.S. inventor and explosives expert (brother of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim).
  4. a male given name, form of
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: