laconic

See also: Laconic and lacònic

English

WOTD – 31 March 2007

Alternative forms

  • laconick (obsolete)

Etymology

Wikiquote

Wikidata

From Latin Lacōnicus (Spartan), from Ancient Greek Λακωνικός (Lakōnikós, Laconian). Laconia was the region inhabited and ruled by the Spartans, who were known for their brevity in speech.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ləˈkɒnɪk/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ləˈkɑnɪk/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (General Australian):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒnɪk

Adjective

laconic (comparative more laconic, superlative most laconic)

  1. Using as few words as possible; pithy and concise.
    • August 17, 1736, Alexander Pope, letter to Jonathan Swift:
      I grow laconick even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long.
    • 1738, Zachary Grey, An Attempt towards the Character of the Royal Martyr King Charles I:
      His sense was strong and his style laconic.
  2. (Australia, sometimes proscribed) Laidback; casual; not intense.
    • 2022 June 15, Donal Wilson, “Mid-season review: Brisbane Lions”, in Roar[1]:
      A key player up the other end of the ground is Harris Andrews, who sometimes gets unfairly criticised for his laconic playing style. He desperately cares for this team.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French laconique.

Adjective

laconic m or n (feminine singular laconică, masculine plural laconici, feminine and neuter plural laconice)

  1. laconic

Declension

Declension of laconic
singular plural
masculine neuter feminine masculine neuter feminine
nominative-
accusative
indefinite laconic laconică laconici laconice
definite laconicul laconica laconicii laconicele
genitive-
dative
indefinite laconic laconice laconici laconice
definite laconicului laconicei laconicilor laconicelor