Aphorism Definition

ăfə-rĭzəm
aphorisms
noun
aphorisms
A tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion; an adage.
American Heritage
A short, concise statement of a principle.
Webster's New World
A brief statement of a scientific principle.
American Heritage
A short, pointed sentence expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth; maxim; adage.
Webster's New World

An original laconic phrase conveying some principle or concept of thought.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Aphorism

Noun

Singular:
aphorism
Plural:
aphorisms

Origin of Aphorism

  • From Middle French aphorisme, from Late Latin aphorismus, from Ancient Greek ἀφορισμός (aphorismos, “pithy phrase containing a general truth”), from ἀφορίζω (aphorizō, “I define, mark off or determine”), from ἀπό (apo, “off”) + ὁρίζω (horizō, “I divide, bound”), from ὅρος (horos, “boundary”).

    From Wiktionary

  • French aphorisme from Old French from Late Latin aphorismus from Greek aphorismos from aphorizein to delimit, define apo- apo- horizein to delimit, define horizon

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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