laconic
English
WOTD – 31 March 2007
Alternative forms
- laconick (obsolete)
Etymology
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)
- 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.
- (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
Related terms
Translations
using as few words as possible
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Anagrams
Romanian
Etymology
Borrowed from French laconique.
Adjective
laconic m or n (feminine singular laconică, masculine plural laconici, feminine and neuter plural laconice)
Declension
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 |