{ } n. [ Gr. 'apo`fqegma thing uttered, apothegm, from 'apofqe`ggesqai to speak out; 'apo` from + fqe`ggesqai 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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]