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gnomic

1
[ noh-mik, nom-ik ]
/ ˈnoʊ mɪk, ˈnɒm ɪk /
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adjective

of, relating to, or resembling a gnome.

RELATED WORDS

precise, curt, cryptic, incisive, concise, brusque, laconic, pithy, succinct, elliptical, trenchant, abrupt, clear-cut, close, compact, compendious, condensed, crisp, epigrammatic, exact

Nearby words

  1. gniezno,
  2. gnma,
  3. gnoc,
  4. gnocchi,
  5. gnome,
  6. gnomish,
  7. gnomist,
  8. gnomologic,
  9. gnomology,
  10. gnomon

Origin of gnomic

1
First recorded in 1805–15; gnome1 + -ic

Definition for gnomic (2 of 2)

gnomic

2
[ noh-mik, nom-ik ]
/ ˈnoʊ mɪk, ˈnɒm ɪk /

adjective

like or containing gnomes or aphorisms.
of, relating to, or noting a writer of aphorisms, especially any of certain Greek poets.
Also gno·mi·cal.

Origin of gnomic

2
From the Greek word gnōmikós, dating back to 1805–15. See gnome2, -ic
Related formsgno·mi·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gnomic

British Dictionary definitions for gnomic

gnomic

gnomical

/ (ˈnəʊmɪk, ˈnɒm-) /

adjective

consisting of, containing, or relating to gnomes or aphorisms
of or relating to a writer of such sayings
Derived Formsgnomically, adverb
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

Word Origin and History for gnomic

gnomic

adj.

"full of instructive sayings," 1815, from French gnomique (18c.) and directly from Late Latin gnomicus "concerned with maxims, didactic," from Greek gnomikos, from gnome "thought, opinion, maxim, intelligence," from root of gignoskein "to come to know" (see gnostic). English gnome meant "short, pithy statement of general truth" (1570s). Gnomical is attested from 1610s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper