— aphorismic, aphorismatic /af'euh riz mat"ik/ , adj.
/af"euh riz'euhm/ , n.
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely" (Lord Acton).
[ 1520-30; F aphorisme aphorismus aphorismós definition, equiv. to aphor ( ízein ) to define (see APHORIZE) + -ismos -ISM ]