noun
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economy of expression
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a terse saying
Etymology
Origin of laconism
1560–70; < Greek lakōnismós, noun answering to lakōnízein to favor or imitate the Spartans. See laconic, -ism
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.
And E. M. Cioran, on the virtues of economy and obliquity: “Is there a better sign of ‘civilization’ than laconism?
From The New Yorker
The only time he abandoned his Trappist laconism was when Alba went to visit him in his tunnel of books.
From Literature
It was Spartan in some of its laconisms.
From Project Gutenberg
You may, perhaps, imagine that laconism could no further go.
From Project Gutenberg
Paling suddenly, Mr. Hildreth dropped his eyes and replied humbly, though with equal laconism, "I was thinking."
From Project Gutenberg
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.
