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apophthegm

[ ap-uh-them ]
/ ˈæp əˌθɛm /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR apophthegm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

apothegm.

RELATED WORDS

aphorism, dictum, adage, theorem, proverb, motto, axiom, meaning, significance, maxim, epigram, witticism, saw, statement, saying, byword, commonplace, belief, truism, epithet

Nearby words

  1. apophasis,
  2. apophatic,
  3. apophis,
  4. apophonic,
  5. apophony,
  6. apophthegmatic,
  7. apophyge,
  8. apophyllite,
  9. apophysis,
  10. apophysitis
Related formsap·o·phtheg·mat·ic [ap-uh-theg-mat-ik] /ˌæp ə θɛgˈmæt ɪk/, ap·o·phtheg·mat·i·cal, adjective

Definition for apophthegm (2 of 2)

apothegm

or ap·o·phthegm

[ ap-uh-them ]
/ ˈæp əˌθɛm /

noun

a short, pithy, instructive saying; a terse remark or aphorism.

Origin of apothegm

1545–55; earlier apothegma < Greek apóphthegma, equivalent to apophtheg- (variant stem of apophthéngesthai to speak out; apo- apo- + phthéngesthai to speak) + -ma noun suffix
Related formsap·o·theg·mat·ic [ap-uh-theg-mat-ik] /ˌæp ə θɛgˈmæt ɪk/, ap·o·theg·mat·i·cal, adjectiveap·o·theg·mat·i·cal·ly, adverb
Can be confusedadage aphorism apothegm axiom maxim proverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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British Dictionary definitions for apophthegm (1 of 2)

apophthegm

apothegm

/ (ˈæpəˌθɛm) /

noun

a short cryptic remark containing some general or generally accepted truth; maxim
Derived Formsapophthegmatic or apothegmatic (ˌæpəθɛɡˈmætɪk), adjective

Word Origin for apophthegm

C16: from Greek apophthegma, from apophthengesthai to speak one's opinion frankly, from phthengesthai to speak

British Dictionary definitions for apophthegm (2 of 2)

apothegm

/ (ˈæpəˌθɛm) /

noun

a variant spelling of apophthegm
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012