laconic

laconic
laconic (adj.) "concise, abrupt," 1580s, probably via L. Laconicus, from Gk. Lakonikos, from Lakon "person from Lakonia," the district around Sparta in southern Greece in ancient times, whose inhabitants were famously proud of their brevity of speech. When Philip of Macedon threatened them with, "If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta to the ground," the Spartans' reply was, "If." An earlier form was laconical (1570s). Related: Laconically.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • laconic — LACÓNIC, Ă, laconici, ce, adj. (Despre vorbire, stil) Care se exprimă în puţine cuvinte; scurt, succint, concis, lapidar. ♦ (Despre oameni) Care vorbeşte puţin (şi precis). – Din fr. laconique. Trimis de ana zecheru, 13.09.2007. Sursa: DEX 98 … …   Dicționar Român

  • Laconic — La*con ic, Laconical La*con ic*al, a. [L. Laconicus Laconian, Gr. ??, fr. ?? a Laconian, Laced[ae]monian, or Spartan: cf. F. laconique.] 1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; concise;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Laconic — La*con ic, n. Laconism. [Obs.] Addison. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • laconic — I adjective abbreviated, abridged, adstrictus, brevis, brief, brusque, closemouthed, compendious, compressed, concise, condensed, contracted, curt, economical of words, epigrammatic, exact, mum, pauciloquent, pithy, pointed, precise, quiet,… …   Law dictionary

  • laconic — succinct, terse, *concise, summary, pithy, compendious Analogous words: curt, brusque (see BLUFF): *brief, short Antonyms: verbose Contrasted words: *wordy, prolix, diffuse: loquacious, *talkative, voluble, glib, garrulous …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • laconic — [adj] short, to the point breviloquent, brief, brusque, compact, compendiary, compendious, concise, crisp, curt, pithy, sententious, short and sweet*, succinct, terse; concepts 267,773,798 Ant. long winded, verbose, wordy …   New thesaurus

  • laconic — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ using very few words; terse. DERIVATIVES laconically adverb. ORIGIN Greek Lak nikos, from Lak n Laconia, Sparta , the Spartans being known for their terse speech …   English terms dictionary

  • laconic — [lə kän′ik] adj. [L Laconicus < Gr Lakōnikos, Laconian < Lakōn, a Laconian, Spartan] brief or terse in speech or expression; using few words SYN. CONCISE laconically adv …   English World dictionary

  • Laconic —    Laconia, that ancient Greek country of which Lacedaemon or Sparta was the capital, was the land of the Spartans. Sparta was also known as Laconia, and Spartans as Laconians. These people were noted for their parsimonious speech. The name of… …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • laconic — [[t]ləkɒ̱nɪk[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you describe someone as laconic, you mean that they use very few words to say something, so that they seem casual or unfriendly. Usually so laconic in the office, Dr. Lahey seemed less guarded, more relaxed... At… …   English dictionary

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