Logions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Short, often pithy or authoritative sayings or utterances; brief statements conveying wisdom or moral lessons; notable remarks attributed typically to historical or religious figures
2. Concise verbal expressions that impart insightful or doctrinal truths; brief, meaningful sentences with ethical or spiritual significance; sayings usually derived from ancient texts or teachings
3. Succinct phrases often considered wise or prophetic; short, impactful declarations used to teach or illustrate principles; remarks commonly found in traditional or scriptural sources

Etymology: Ancient Greek writers used "logion" for a short, pointed utterance, often a pronouncement with the weight of an oracle. It is a diminutive of "logos," which meant word, speech, reason, and account, so the little form literally meant a small saying. The "-ion" ending marks the smaller version of the root. In English the word is mostly a term of biblical scholarship. It names sayings attributed to Jesus that circulate on their own rather than inside a continuous narrative. The Gospel of Thomas is largely a collection of such sayings, and scholars use "logia" for the material of this kind, usually in the plural.

Synonyms: sayings, utterances, maxims