apothegm
pronunciation
How to pronounce apothegm in British English: UK ['æpəθem]
How to pronounce apothegm in American English: US [ˈæpəˌθɛm]
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- Noun:
- a short pithy instructive saying
Word Origin
- apothegm (n.)
- "pithy saying," 1550s, from Greek apophthegma "terse, pointed saying," literally "something clearly spoken," from apophthengesthai "to speak one's opinion plainly," from apo- "from" (see apo-) + phthengesthai "to utter." See aphorism for nuances of usage. Spelling apophthegm, restored by Johnson, is preferred in England, according to OED.