aphorism

plural aphorisms

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

   [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.

   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

2. usuallyA concise or pithy, and memorable, expression of a general truth; a maxim, a saying.

   Is not thy common talke ſound Aphoriſmes?

   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

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

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

   […] 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.

   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

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

   1750 November 20 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. [68]. Friday, 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

   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.

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

   Synonyms: adage, apophthegm, apothegm, pearl of wisdom, byword, saying, adage, saw

3. obsoleterareThe essence or heart of something.

   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, […]

   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

present singular third person aphorisms · participle present aphorisming · participle past aphorismed · past aphorismed

1. intransitiveTo speak or write one or more aphorisms (noun sense 2).

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

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

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   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.

   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

   [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; […]

   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

   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.

   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

   "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."

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