Apophthegmatic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Translating complex ideas into short, wise sayings is a hallmark of this style
2. Characteristic of statements that are brief and packed with wisdom or moral teaching
3. Marked by the use of short, pointed phrases that convey clear and valuable lessons

Etymology: Ancient Greek gave English this word through a verb that meant "to speak out" or "to say plainly." The Greek "apophthegma" was a pointed saying, a terse remark delivered with force, and the adjective "apophthegmatikos" described someone who spoke in such sayings. English took the form "apothegmatic" directly from that Greek root, and "apophthegmatic" is a variant spelling that keeps the "ph" closer to the Greek original. The core idea is brevity with punch. A "apophthegm" was never a long argument; it was a compact statement of wisdom, the kind of sentence that sticks after the speaker has gone. That is why the adjective is applied to a person's manner of speech, as in a writer whose prose is studded with memorable one-liners.