axiom

---

Etymology

From Middle French axiome in the 15th century, from Latin axiōma, from Ancient Greek ἀξίωμα, from ἀξιόω ("to think fit or worthy, to require, to demand"), from ἄξιος ("fit, worthy"), from ἄγω ("to weigh (down)").

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈak.sɪ.əm/
• (America) enPR: ăk'sēəm, IPA: /ˈæk.si.əm/
• (obsolete) enPR: ăk'shəm, IPA: /ˈæk.ʃəm/

Noun

axiom (plural axioms) (the latter is becoming less common and is sometimes considered archaic)

1. (philosophy) A seemingly self-evident or necessary truth which is based on assumption; a principle or proposition which cannot actually be proved or disproved.
2. (logic, mathematics, proof theory) A fundamental assumption that serves as a basis for deduction of theorems; a postulate (sometimes distinguished from postulates as being universally applicable, whereas postulates are particular to a certain science or context).
3. An established principle in some artistic practice or science that is universally received.

   The axioms of political economy cannot be considered absolute truths.

Synonyms

• (philosophy, mathematics) axioma (now rare)
• (logic, mathematics) postulate

Translations

• French: axiome
• German: Axiom, Annahme
• Italian: assioma
• Portuguese: axioma
• Russian: аксио́ма
• Spanish: axioma

Translations

• French: axiome
• German: Axiom, Postulat, Grundannahme, Ausgangspunkt
• Italian: assioma
• Portuguese: axioma
• Russian: аксио́ма
• Spanish: axioma

Translations

• German: Grundannahme, Grundsatz, Leitsatz
• Portuguese: axioma
• Spanish: axioma

---

This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.001