Meanings
nounapophthegm (plural apophthegms)
plural apophthegms · alternative apothegm
- UKalternativeAlternative spelling of apothegm.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekἀπόφθεγμα
- Englishapophthegm
First attested 1553, from Ancient Greek ἀπόφθεγμα (apóphthegma), from ἀποφθέγγομαι (apophthéngomai, “I plainly speak my mind”), from ἀπό (apó, “from”) + φθέγγομαι (phthéngomai, “I speak loudly”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Sounds the same
Cite this entry
APA
apophthegm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apophthegm
MLA
“apophthegm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apophthegm. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apophthegm,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apophthegm.
Source: apophthegm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.