apothegm
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of apothegm
First recorded in 1570–80; earlier apothegma, from Greek apóphthegma, equivalent to apophtheg- (variant stem of apophthéngesthai “to speak out”; apo- apo- + phthéngesthai “to speak”) + -ma noun suffix
Explanation
An apothegm is a short instructive saying that's easy to remember and sometimes even slightly witty, like "haste makes waste." An apothegm often expresses a fundamental truth or general rule. To correctly pronounce apothegm, put the accent on the first syllable and give it the short a sound, as in apple: "A-puh-them." It comes from the Greek word apophthegma, meaning "terse, pointed saying," derived from apo-, meaning "from," and phthengesthai, meaning "to utter."
Vocabulary lists containing apothegm
Poe's Favorite Words, collected by Charles Harrington Elster
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Challenge, List 11
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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.
On Saturday, Broner apologized for his language, invoking an apothegm of his own invention.
From The New Yorker • Jan. 15, 2015
He was an apothegm slinger; he was unstoppable.
From New York Times • Jul. 22, 2012
The Philip Green approach, "done and dusted, back to the beach", is not their style, any more than his apothegm: "I want to make a profit, not be a prophet."
From The Guardian • Aug. 21, 2010
To square himself with the ancient virtues, he endorsed Benjamin Franklin's apothegm that "the way to wealth is through work."
From Time Magazine Archive
The old apothegm that no one can add one inch to his stature, has been once more ratified, that's all.
From The Children of the World by Heyse, Paul
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.
