apophthegm
[ ap-uh-them ]
/ ˈæp əˌθɛm /
noun
Nearby words
apophasis, apophatic, apophis, apophonic, apophony, apophthegm, apophthegmatic, apophyge, apophyllite, apophysis, 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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for apophthegm
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)
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