maximus

See also: Maximus

Latin

Alternative forms

• maxumus (Republican spelling)

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *magisəmos, from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“great”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈmak.si.mus/, [ˈmäks̠ɪmʊs̠]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈmak.si.mus/, [ˈmäksimus]
• Note: the only evidence for a long /a/ in this word is the inscriptional MÁX(IMVS) in the acts of the Arval Brethren for 120 CE. If genuine, this would be an example of the much-debated Lachmann's law.

Adjective

maximus (feminine maxima, neuter maximum, positive magnus); first/second declension

1. Superlative degree of magnus: greatest (in various senses):
   1. (of size) biggest, largest

      Antonyms: minimus, tenuissimus

   2. (of number, value, amount) largest
      1. (of sound) loudest
      2. (law, of property) unencumbered

         uti optimae maximaeque sunt (aedēs) ― the building is free from any encumberance

   3. (of age) oldest, eldest

      maximus nātū ― the eldest

   4. (of degree) highest, utmost

      maximō opere ― extremely, vehemently, with the greatest intensity

   5. (of things) most important, chief, leading, critical

      maximī facere ― to value greatly, make much of

   6. (of power or reputation) mightiest, most eminent, senior or distinguished

      annālēs maximī ― the annals compiled by the Pontifex Maximus

   7. (with agent nouns) outstanding (denoting excellence in a special activity)
   8. (of mind, spirit) most confident, bravest; most generous

Declension

First/second-declension adjective, with locative.

	singular				plural
	masculine	feminine	neuter		masculine	feminine	neuter
nominative	maximus	maxima	maximum		maximī	maximae	maxima
genitive	maximī	maximae	maximī		maximōrum	maximārum	maximōrum
dative	maximō	maximae	maximō		maximīs
accusative	maximum	maximam	maximum		maximōs	maximās	maxima
ablative	maximō	maximā	maximō		maximīs
vocative	maxime	maxima	maximum		maximī	maximae	maxima
locative	maximī	maximae	maximī		maximīs

Derived terms

• Iuppiter Optimus Maximus

Descendants

• Old French: maisme
• Old Francorprovençal: maimamen, maymament, *maismament
  • Franco-Provençal: maîmament
• ⇒ Piedmontese: meimament
• → English: maximum
• → French: maximum
• → Italian: massimo
• → Portuguese: máximo
• → Romanian: maxim
• → Spanish: máximo

References

• “maximus” on page 1196 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (2nd ed., 2012)

Further reading

• “maximus”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “maximus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• maximus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎^[3], London: Macmillan and Co.
  • it is high time that..: tempus maximum est, ut
    
  • to be in the enjoyment of a large fortune: fortunis maximis ornatum esse
    
  • to remunerate (handsomely): praemiis (amplissimis, maximis) aliquem afficere
    
  • to praise, extol, commend a person: (maximis, summis) laudibus efferre aliquem or aliquid
    
  • to win golden opinions from every one: maximam ab omnibus laudem adipisci
    
  • to be overwhelmed by a great affliction: in maximos luctus incidere
    
  • time assuages the most violent grief: vel maximos luctus vetustate tollit diuturnitas (Fam. 5. 16. 5)
    
  • to inspire some one with the most brilliant hopes: in maximam spem aliquem adducere (Att. 2. 22. 3)
    
  • to be reduced to extreme financial embarrassment: in maximas angustias (pecuniae) adduci
    
  • a numerous army: ingens, maximus exercitus (not numerosus)
    
  • to procure a very large supply of corn: frumenti vim maximam comparare
    
  • by the longest possible forced marches: quam maximis itineribus (potest)
    
  • the main point: id quod maximum, gravissimum est
    
• “maximus”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers