Maxim

[mak-sim] /ˈmæk sɪm/

noun
1.
an expression of a general truth or principle, especially an aphoristic or sententious one:
the maxims of La Rochefoucauld.
2.
a principle or rule of conduct.
[mak-sim; for 4 also French mak-seem, Russian muh-ksyeem] /ˈmæk sɪm; for 4 also French makˈsim, Russian mʌˈksyim/
noun
1.
Hiram Percy, 1869–1936, U.S. inventor.
2.
his father, Sir Hiram Stevens, 1840–1916, English inventor, born in the U.S.: inventor of the Maxim gun.
3.
Hudson, 1853–1927, U.S. inventor and explosives expert (brother of Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim).
4.
a male given name, form of .
/ˈmæksɪm/
noun
1.
a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct
/ˈmæksɪm/
noun
1.
Sir Hiram Stevens. 1840–1916, British inventor of the first automatic machine gun (1884), born in the US
n.

“precept, principle,” early 15c., from Middle French maxime, from Late Latin maxima, shortened from phrases such as maxima propositio, maxima sententarium “axiom,” literally “greatest premise, greatest among propositions” (one which is general and absolute), from fem. of maximus “greatest” (see maximum).

single-barreled water-cooled machine gun, 1885, named for inventor, U.S.-born British engineer Sir Hiram S. Maxim (1840-1916).