apophthegm

[ap-uh-them]

noun

1. apothegm.

apophthegm

/ ˌæpəθɛɡˈmætɪk, ˈæpəˌθɛm /

noun

1. a short cryptic remark containing some general or generally accepted truth; maxim

Other Word Forms

• apophthegmatic adjective
• apophthegmatical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of apophthegm¹

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

Example Sentences

They have been called stories but could equally be miniatures, anecdotes, essays, jokes, parables, fables, texts, aphorisms or even apophthegms, prayers or simply observations.”

From New York Times

I still require the texture of the pages and enjoy underlining clever apophthegms.

From Forbes

I should prefer to reverse the apophthegm, and to say that in life I see the promise and potency of all forms of matter.

From Project Gutenberg

The middle row, the first to be inscribed, deals with the Epicurean theory of atoms—not by apophthegm or aphorism, but with something of the fulness and technicality of a treatise.

From Project Gutenberg

The results of these new reflections grew into fixed rules, into proverbs and apophthegms.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adage 
• aphorism 
• axiom 
• dictum 
• motto 
• proverb 
• theorem