gnomic
1 Americanadjective
adjective
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like or containing gnomes or aphorisms.
-
of, relating to, or noting a writer of aphorisms, especially any of certain Greek poets.
adjective
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consisting of, containing, or relating to gnomes or aphorisms
-
of or relating to a writer of such sayings
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gnomic1
First recorded in 1805–15; gnome 1 + -ic
Origin of gnomic2
From the Greek word gnōmikós, dating back to 1805–15. See gnome 2, -ic
Explanation
A phrase that's short, catchy, and clever can be described as gnomic. Your grandmother's famous gnomic aphorisms include "Pet a cat and you've got a job for life!" The root of this word is the Greek gnome, "an opinion." Ancient Greeks had an entire genre devoted to what they called gnomes (today generally referred to as gnomic poetry): pithy, meaningful phrases that rhymed. Gnomic verse started out expressing strong moral and religious opinions. These gnomes have evolved into truisms and adages that are easy to remember but not always widely understood, like the gnomic idea that "a penny saved is a penny earned."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gnomic declarations hovered in the air like mist: “We need to distinguish distinction”; “There’s no seeing, there’s only the seer”; “There isn’t any is.”
From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2015
“Yeah, Eco Gnomic is dying,” said Gerry, giant mustache twirling, “but so is the planet.”
From Slate • Sep. 18, 2014
He found himself pushing past the white balsawood-and-metal door with the cheap sign saying Eco Gnomic and into the offices, and then he stopped.
From Slate • Sep. 18, 2014
The Eco Gnomic offices looked like crap compared with DiZi’s majesty, but also compared with the last time he’d seen them.
From Slate • Sep. 18, 2014
The parrot squawked again. “!chocH” Mandy had named him Chock, after his favorite word, which was an exclamation in Gnomic meaning “oh,” or “oh my,” or even “eek!”
From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
