Apothegm

{ Ap″o‐thegm, Ap″oph‐thegm } (�), n. [Gr. απὄφθεγμα thing uttered, apothegm, from αποφθἔγγεσθαι to speak out; απὄ from + φθέγγεσθαι to speak.] A short, pithy, and instructive saying; a terse remark, conveying some important truth; a sententious precept or maxim. [Apothegm is now the prevalent spelling in the United States.]