apothegm

or ap·o·phthegm

[ ap-uh-them ]

noun

1. a short, pithy, instructive saying; a terse remark or aphorism.

apothegm

/ ˈæpəˌθɛm /

noun

1. a variant spelling of apophthegm

Other Words From

• ap·o·theg·mat·ic [ap-, uh, -theg-, mat, -ik], apo·theg·mati·cal adjective
• apo·theg·mati·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of apothegm¹

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

Example Sentences

The humorist S. J. Perelman, asked years ago in an interview for The Paris Review if he felt distrusting the first thing that comes to mind is important in writing humor, replied: “In writing anything, sweetie. The old apothegm that easy writing makes hard reading is as succinct as ever.”

From New York Times

The fact that it was the manipulative monster Chairman Mao who said, “All genuine knowledge originates in direct experience,” does not make the apothegm less true.

From New York Times

Others invite a specific needle drop: Kazan’s expression of surprise when she receives a marriage proposal; her awkward conversations with Bill Heck; her utterly natural delivery of the word “apothegm”; Waits stealing eggs from an owl’s nest and then putting all but one of them back.

From New York Times

These go by other names too: maxim, apothegm, dictum, epigram, gnome, and sentence.

From The New Yorker

His most famous apothegm—“What you see is what you see”—is no help, if seeing is supposed to imply comprehending.

From The New Yorker