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apophthegm, apothegm|ˈæpəθɪm|
Forms: 6 apothegma, 6–8 apo(ph)thegme, 7 apophthem, 7– apothegm, 6– apophthegm.
[ad. (perh. through med.L. *apothegma) Gr. ἀπόϕθεγµα something clearly spoken, a terse saying, f. ἀποϕθέγγ-εσθαι to speak one's opinion clearly, f. ἀπό forth + ϕθέγγεσθαι to utter a sound, speak. The spelling apothegm was the more usual till preference was expressed in Johnson's Dict. for apophthegm, which is now more frequent in England. Webster adopts apothegm, which Worcester also thinks ‘perhaps best supported by common usage.’ Cf. Fr. apophthegme, Sp. apothegma, It. apotegma.]
A terse, pointed saying, embodying an important truth in few words; a pithy or sententious maxim.
1553–87Foxe A. & M. III. 145 marg. note, Another Apothegma of D. Taylor. 1572J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 106 b, His Apothegme or word, Cor vnum, via una. 1586J. Hooker Girald. Hist. Irel. in Holinsh. II. 97/1 Graue and pithie apophthegmes. 1646Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 23 The Apothegmes, or reputed replyes of wisdome, whereof many are to be seen in Laertius. 1791Boswell Johnson (1816) II. 360 Johnson suddenly uttered..an apophthegm, at which many will start: ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’ 1813Knox & Jebb Corr. II. 170 The apothegms, and aculeated sayings of the ancients. 1832Scott Talism. (1854) 359 Hearing his misery made..the ground of apothegms and proverbs. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) IX. xiv. v. 204 The rare talent of compressing a mass of profound thought into an apophthegm. 1879Farrar Paul I. 593 The admirable Hebrew apophthegm, Learn to say I do not know. |