'gnomic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'gnōmikós', where 'gnōmē' meant 'judgment' or 'maxim'.

'gnōmikós' changed into Late Latin 'gnomonicus' and passed into Middle English (as forms like 'gnomik'), eventually becoming the modern English word 'gnomic'.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to judgments or maxims,' and over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'expressed in short, pithy, and sometimes enigmatic statements.'