Word of the Day: June 1, 2009 - maximum

maximum (mak-suh-muhm) - noun

Maximum means "the greatest possible quantity or degree."

First used in the written form around 1730–1740. Maximum was adopted, via French, from maximum, the neuter form of Latin maximus, meaning "largest." This was the superlative of magnus, meaning "large" (source of English magnitude, magnum, etc.). From the same ultimate source comes maxim which goes back via French maxime to Latin maxima. This was short for maxima propositio, meaning "largest proposition," a term used in medieval philosophy for a "fundamental axiom."