Forms: 6 apothegma, 6–8 apo(ph)thegme, 7 apophthem, 7– apothegm, 6– apophthegm. [ad. (perh. through med.L. *apothegma) Gr. ἀπόφθεγμα something clearly spoken, a terse saying, f. ἀποφθέγγ-εσθαι to speak one’s opinion clearly, f. ἀπό forth + φθέγγ-εσθαι to utter a sound, speak. The spelling apothegm was the more usual till preference was expressed in Johnson’s Dict. for apophthegm, which is now more frequent in England. Webster adopts apothegm, which Worcester also thinks ‘perhaps best supported by common usage.’ Cf. Fr. apophthegme, Sp. apothegma, It. apotegma.] A terse, pointed saying, embodying an important truth in few words; a pithy or sententious maxim.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M., III. 145, marg. note. Another Apothegma of D. Taylor.
1572. Bossewell, Armorie, II. 106 b. His Apothegme or word, Cor vnum, via una.
1586. J. Hooker, Girald. Hist. Irel., in Holinsh., II. 97/1. Graue and pithie apophthegmes.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 23. The Apothegmes, or reputed replyes of wisdome, whereof many are to be seen in Laertius.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1816), II. 360. Johnson suddenly uttered … an apophthegm, at which many will start: ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’
1813. Knox & Jebb, Corr., II. 170. The apothegms, and aculeated sayings of the ancients.
1832. Scott, Talism. (1854), 359. Hearing his misery made … the ground of apothegms and proverbs.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IX. XIV. v. 204. The rare talent of compressing a mass of profound thought into an apophthegm.
1879. Farrar, Paul, I. 593. The admirable Hebrew apophthegm, Learn to say I do not know.
