'apophthegmatic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apophthēgma', where 'apo-' meant 'away' and the root related to 'phthengesthai' meant 'to speak'.

'apophthegmatic' changed from Greek 'apophthēgma' into Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'apophthegma' and via Middle English forms eventually became the modern English 'apophthegmatic'.

Initially it referred to 'a pithy saying' (the noun), but over time it evolved into an adjective meaning 'concise, aphoristic' or 'characteristic of a pointed remark'.