axiom
(ˈæksɪəm)
Forms: 6–7 axioma, axiome, 5– axiom.
[a. F. axiome, ad. L. axiōma, a. Gr. ἀξίωµα that which is thought worthy or fit, that which commends itself as self-evident, f. ἀξιόειν to hold worthy, f. ἄξιος worthy.]
1. A proposition that commends itself to general acceptance; a well-established or universally-conceded principle; a maxim, rule, law.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & V. Prol., An axiom which in Latin expressed, hoc crede quod tibi verum esse videtur. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 100 The Axiomaes of Aristotle. 1604 Dekker Honest Wh. Wks. 1873 II. 63 That's an Axiome, a Principle. 1651 Hobbes Govt. & Soc. i. §2. 3 Which Axiom, though received by most, is yet certainly false. 1757 Johnson Rambl. No. 175 ¶1 The axioms of wisdom which recommend the ancient sages to veneration. 1837 J. Harris Gt. Teacher 389 The axiom known by the name of the golden rule. 1875 H. E. Manning Mission H. Ghost ii. 33 It is an axiom of the human reason that God is everywhere. |
† b. Specially restricted by Bacon to: An empirical law, a generalization from experience. Obs.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §2 Led by great Judgement, and some good Light of Axioms. 1627 Rawley in Bacon's Ess. (Arb.) Introd. 26 True Axiomes must be drawne from plaine Experience, and not from doubtful. 1838 Sir W. Hamilton Logic xxvi. II. 47 Empirical rules (Bacon would call them axioms.) |
† 2. Logic. A proposition (whether true or false).
| 1588 Fraunce Lawiers Log. ii. i. 86 b, An axiom or proposition..hath two partes, the bande, and the partes bound. 1656 Stanley Hist. Philos. viii. Zeno xx. 43 Universally negative axioms are those, which consist of an universall negative particle, and a Categorem; as, no man walketh. 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. Apol. 533 Otherwise no man might dispute or pronounce a false Axiome. 1742 in Bailey. |
3. Logic and Math. ‘A self-evident proposition, requiring no formal demonstration to prove its truth, but received and assented to as soon as mentioned’ (Hutton).
| a 1600 Hooker (J.) Axioms, or principles more general, are such as this, that the greater good is to be chosen before the lesser. 1660 R. Coke Justice Vind. 16. 1785 Reid Int. Powers i. ii, Nor are they necessary truths, as mathematical axioms are. 1807 Byron Hours Idlen., College Exam., Happy the youth in Euclid's axioms tried. 1851 H. Spencer Soc. Stat. ii. ix. §6 The axiom that the whole is greater than its part. |