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aphorism
[ af-uh-riz-uhm ]
noun
- a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).
aphorism
/ ˈæfəˌrɪzəm /
noun
- a short pithy saying expressing a general truth; maxim
aphorism
- 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.”
Derived Forms
- ˈaphorist, noun
Other Words From
- apho·rismic aph·o·ris·mat·ic [af-, uh, -riz-, mat, -ik], adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of aphorism1
Example Sentences
We must disabuse ourselves of this perhaps half-ironic but still telling aphorism.
He left the crowd with a Greek aphorism—“to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world.”
Thus my aphorism of the week: trying to contain damage only does more damage.
He defines Dynamic Inaction with one pithy aphorism: “When in doubt, mumble; when in trouble, delegate; when in charge, ponder.”
He utters the aphorism in immaculate French, and judging from an overheard phone call, his Italian is almost as good.
The well-worn aphorism of the Frenchman, “History repeats itself,” was about to assert itself.
Part of the first aphorism of Hippocrates is—Ὁ βίος βραχύς, ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρή.
"Hit's the pore house fer a cow hand," was his terse aphorism on the subject, and Landy had never seen a "fitten" poor house.
Paragraphs sometimes close with a shorter statement of the proposition, a sort of aphorism or epigram.
For each or either of these extra-scriptural Articles of Faith the preceding Aphorism supplies a safe criterion.
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