Maximum
/ˈmæk.sɪ.məm/noun
The greatest possible amount, extent, or degree.
Did you know?Maximum comes from Latin maximus, the superlative form of magnus (“great”), and its root family is the same ancient source behind words like magnify and major.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meg-
“to be great, big”
Latin
Latin
magnus
“great, large”
Latin
Latin
maximus
“greatest, largest”
Late Latin
Latin
maximum
“the greatest amount or degree”
14th Century
English
maximum
“the greatest amount or degree”