Phthegm

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A vocal sound or utterance produced by the voice
2. A sound or cry that is spoken or vocalized
3. Any sound that is uttered or expressed through speech

Etymology: Ancient Greek speakers had a verb, "phthengesthai," meaning to speak out or utter a sharp, clear sound. From it they formed "apophthegma," a pointed, memorable saying. English took this over as "apophthegm," and "phthegm" is a later shortening that keeps only the root's core sounds. The spelling has a misleading twin: "phlegm," the bodily fluid, comes from a different Greek word, "phlegma," meaning inflammation or mucus. The two look alike by coincidence, not kinship. The shortened form is rare today, but it survives as a label for a terse, pithy remark, the kind of thing a sharp mind delivers in a single line. Its meaning has stayed narrow: it names a saying, not speech in general.