a. [ad. Gr. ἀποφθεγματικ-ός sententious: see prec. and -IC.] Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of, an apophthegm; addicted to the use of apophthegms; sententious, pithy.
1794. Pindariana, Pref. p. ix. The Eastern hemisphere glitters with apophthegmatic constellations; and now a BARD resolved to add a star to that of the West.
1796. W. Taylor, in Month. Rev., XX. 517. Some Rhapsodical Thoughts are appended, which strongly enforce the utility of apophthegmatic instruction.
1838. Burlington Free Press, 28 June, 1/3. Burke, his apothegmatic conclusions and his instructive dogmatisms drawn from life and books.
1840. Sir J. Stephen, Eccl. Biog., II. 410. The apophthegmatic sententiousness of Burke.
