n. A terse, witty, instructive saying; a maxim. [Greek apophthegma, from apophthengesthai, to speak plainly : apo-, intensive pref.; see APO- + phthengesthai, phtheg-, to speak.] ap′o·theg·matic (-thĕg-mătĭk), ap′o·theg·mati·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj. ap′o·theg·mati·cal·ly adv. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.