'aphorism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aphorismos', where 'apo-' meant 'away' and 'horizein' meant 'to limit/define'.

'aphorismos' passed into Late Latin as 'aphorismus', then into French as 'aphorisme', and eventually entered English as 'aphorism'.

Initially it meant 'a definition or distinguishing statement', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a concise statement of a general truth or principle'.