apothegm

[ap-uh-them] /ˈæp əˌθɛm/
noun
1.
a short, pithy, instructive saying; a terse remark or aphorism.
Also, apophthegm.
Origin
1545-55; earlier apothegma < Greek apóphthegma, equivalent to apophtheg- (variant stem of apophthéngesthai to speak out; apo- apo- + phthéngesthai to speak) + -ma noun suffix
Related forms
apothegmatic
[ap-uh-theg-mat-ik] /ˌæp ə θɛgˈmæt ɪk/ (Show IPA), apothegmatical, adjective
apothegmatically, adverb
Can be confused
adage, aphorism, apothegm, axiom, maxim, proverb.
British Dictionary definitions for apothegm

apophthegm

/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
noun
1.
a short cryptic remark containing some general or generally accepted truth; maxim
Derived Forms
apophthegmatic, apothegmatic (ˌæpəθɛɡˈmætɪk) adjective
Word Origin
C16: from Greek apophthegma, from apophthengesthai to speak one's opinion frankly, from phthengesthai to speak

apothegm

/ˈæpəˌθɛm/
noun
1.
a variant spelling of apophthegm
Word Origin and History for apothegm
n.

"pithy saying," 1550s, from Greek apophthegma "terse, pointed saying," literally "something clearly spoken," from apophthengesthai "to speak one's opinion plainly," from apo- "from" (see apo-) + phthengesthai "to utter." See aphorism for nuances of usage. Spelling apophthegm, restored by Johnson, is preferred in England, according to OED.