apothegm
- noun
- /ˈæpəˌθɛm/
- Archaic
:
apotegma
- Perhaps De Gaulle would not have agreed with Valery that "everybody can write such things." Montaigne does not perorate, but he conveys the gist of Churchill's famous apothegm, "Never have so many owed so much to so few."
Examples
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His favorite apothegm was ‘Actions speak louder than words,’ which he often quoted.
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The teacher shared an apothegm that encouraged her students to always strive for excellence.
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Mine is a stove with blue material and one that illustrates the apothegm that a dirty mind never sleeps.
Academic text (1997) -
This is the basic truth behind Bentham's apothegm: "Poetry is as good as push-pin." As some now say, choices reveal preference, at least for liberals.
Academic text (1999) -
During the meeting, she used a well-known apothegm to emphasize the importance of teamwork.
Synonyms
37
3.9
A short well-known saying that gives advice or a general truth
32
4.2
A well-known short saying that gives advice or shows a general truth
11
9.9
A short, wise saying that tells a general truth
9
7.4
A short, clever saying that shows a general truth
5
6.4
A short memorable saying that gives common advice
3
8.0
A short clever saying or poem that makes a witty point
A short, wise saying that teaches a simple truth
How Pithy
Surface Forms
Etymology
Apothegm comes from an old Greek word made of apo- 'away' and phēgma 'spoken word', so it meant a saying set apart. So an apothegm today is a short, clever saying that gives a lesson.