"to reach the maximum level," by 1986, colloquial, from maximize or related words. Related: Maxed; maxing. As a noun, by 1811 in reference to a kind of gin said to be the best, apparently an abbreviation of French maxime.

Old English boren, alternative past participle of beran (see bear (v.)). The -en of the Middle English past participles tended to drop the -e- in some verbs, especially after vowels, -r-, and -l- , hence also slain, etc., Middle English stoln. "In modern use the connexion with bear is no longer felt; the phrase to be born has become virtually an intr. verb" [OED].

It is attested from early 14c. as "possessing from birth the character or quality described" (born poet, born loser, etc.). It is from 1710 as "innate, inherited;" the colloquial expression in (one's) born days "in (one's) lifetime" is by 1742.  The distinction of born from borne (q.v.) is 17c. 

of Protestant Christians, "regenerated in spirit and character by a 'new birth' in Christ," by 1920, based on John iii.3. Used in figurative (non-religious) sense by 1977.

also highborn, "of noble birth," c. 1300, from high (adv.) + born.

"so by nature, born so," 1580s, from natural (adj.) + born.

"first in order of birth," as a noun, "first-born child," mid-14c., from first (adj.) + born.

"inheriting liberty," mid-14c., from free (adj.) + born. Old English had freolic (adj.) "free, free-born; glorious, magnificent, noble; beautiful, charming," which became Middle English freli, "a stock epithet of compliment," but which died out, perhaps as the form merged with that of freely (adv.).

Old English welboren; see well (adv.) + born.

1975, proprietary name (Sony), from Japanese beta-beta "all over" + max, from English maximum.

German manufacturing company, named for founder Max Braun, mechanical engineer in Frankfurt am Main (1921).