Part 6897

<hw>Max"im</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>maxime</ets>, L. <ets>maxima</ets> (sc. <ets>sententia</ets>), the greatest sentence, proposition, or axiom, i. e., of the greatest weight or authority, fem. fr. <ets>maximus</ets> greatest, superl. of <ets>magnus</ets> great. See <er>Magnitude</er>, and cf. <er>Maximum</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism.</def>

<blockquote>'T is their <b>maxim</b>, Love is love's reward. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Mus.)</fld> <def>The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large.</def>

<syn>Syn. -- Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See <er>Axiom</er>.</syn>

<h1>Maximilian</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>Max`i*mil"ian</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[From the proper name.]</ety> <def>A gold coin of Bavaria, of the value of about 13s. 6d. sterling, or about three dollars and a quarter.</def>

<h1>Maximization</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>Max`i*mi*za"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act or process of increasing to the highest degree.</def>

<i>Bentham.</i>

<h1>Maximize</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>Max"i*mize</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>maximus</ets> greatest.]</ety> <def>To increase to the highest degree.</def>

<i>Bentham.</i>

<h1>Maximum</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>Max"i*mum</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Maxima</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L., neut. from <ets>maximus</ets> the greatest. See <er>Maxim</er>.]</ety> <def>The greatest quantity or value attainable in a given case; or, the greatest value attained by a quantity which first increases and then begins to decrease; the highest point or degree; -- opposed to <ant>minimum</ant>.</def>

<blockquote>Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to the <b>maximum</b> of happiness, and the minimum of misery. <i>P. Colquhoun.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Maximum thermometer</col>, <cd>a thermometer that registers the highest degree of temperature attained in a given time, or since its last adjustment.</cd></cs>

<h1>Maximum</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>Max"i*mum</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Greatest in quantity or highest in degree attainable or attained; <as>as, a <ex>maximum</ex> consumption of fuel; <ex>maximum</ex> pressure; <ex>maximum</ex> heat.</as></def>

<h1>May</h1> <Xpage=904>

<hw>May</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp.</tt> <er>Might</er> <tt>(?)</tt>]</wordforms> <ety>[AS. pres. <ets>m\'91g</ets> I am able, pret. <ets>meahte</ets>, <ets>mihte</ets>; akin to D. <ets>mogen</ets>, G. <ets>m\'94gen</ets>, OHG. <ets>mugan</ets>, <ets>magan</ets>, Icel. <ets>mega</ets>, Goth. <ets>magan</ets>, Russ. <ets>moche</ets>. <?/. Cf. <er>Dismay</er>, <er>Main</er> strength, <er>Might</er>. The old imp. <ets>mought</ets> is obsolete, except as a provincial word.]</ety> <def>An auxiliary verb qualifyng the meaning of another verb, by expressing: <sd>(a)</sd> Ability, competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by <i>can</i>.</def>

<blockquote>How <b>may</b> a man, said he, with idle speech, Be won to spoil the castle of his health ! <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>For what he [the king] <b>may</b> do is of two kinds; what he <b>may</b> do as just, and what he <b>may</b> do as possible. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>For of all sad words of tongue or pen The saddest are these: "It <b>might</b> have been." <i>Whittier.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(b)</sd> <cd>Liberty; permission; allowance.</cd>

<blockquote>Thou <b>mayst</b> be no longer steward. <i>Luke xvi. 2.</i></blockquote>

<sd>(c)</sd> <cd>Contingency or liability; possibility or probability.</cd>

<blockquote>Though what he learns he speaks, and <b>may</b> advance Some general maxims, or be right by chance. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>