'maxim-bearing' is an English compound combining 'maxim' and 'bearing'. 'maxim' originates from Latin via French: Latin 'maxima (propositio)' → Old French 'maxime' → English 'maxim', where the Latin root 'maximus' meant 'greatest'. 'bearing' comes from Old English 'beran' (to carry) via the verb 'bear' and the present-participle/gerundial suffix '-ing'.

'maxim' entered English from Old French 'maxime', itself from Latin 'maxima (propositio)'. 'bear' derives from Old English 'beran' and developed into modern English 'bear' with the participial/gerund form 'bearing'. The compound 'maxim-bearing' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe something that 'carries' or 'expresses' a maxim.

The component 'maxim' originally referred to a 'greatest (proposition)' in Latin contexts and later to a concise general rule or saying; 'bearing' originally meant 'carrying'. Together, they evolved into the adjective meaning 'carrying or expressing a maxim' (i.e., aphoristic or moralizing).