laconicism
|la-con-i-cism|
🇺🇸
/ləˈkɑːnɪsɪzəm/
🇬🇧
/ləˈkɒnɪsɪz(ə)m/
terse brevity
Etymology
'laconicism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'lakōnikos', where 'Lakōn' meant 'a person from Laconia (the region of Sparta)'.
'lakōnikos' passed into Late Latin as 'laconicus', then into Middle English/French as 'laconic', and eventually the noun 'laconicism' developed in modern English to denote the trait of being laconic.
Initially it referred to something 'of or relating to Laconia (Sparta)' or 'Spartan' (implying brevity and austerity); over time it evolved to mean specifically 'the quality of being concise or terse' in speech or writing.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or practice of using very few words; terseness; succinctness of expression.
Her laconicism in interviews made her answers striking and memorable.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/22 16:10