epigrammatic

Definitions

  • WordNet 3.6
    • adj epigrammatic terse and witty and like a maxim "much given to apothegmatic instruction"
    • ***
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
    • Epigrammatic Suitable to epigrams; belonging to epigrams; like an epigram; pointed; piquant; as, epigrammatic style, wit, or sallies of fancy.
    • Epigrammatic Writing epigrams; dealing in epigrams; as, an epigrammatical poet.
    • ***
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
    • epigrammatic Dealing in epigrams; speaking or writing in epigram: as, an epigrammatic poet.
    • epigrammatic Suitable to epigrams; belonging to epigrams; having the quality of an epigram; antithetical; pointed: as, epigrammatic style or wit.
    • ***
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
    • adjs Epigrammatic relating to or dealing in epigrams: like an epigram: concise and pointed
    • ***

Etymology

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
L. epigrammaticus,: cf. F. épigrammatique,
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary
Through Fr. and L., from Gr. epigramma—epi, upon, gramma, a writing—graphein, to write.

Usage

In literature:

I was born epigrammatic, and my dying remark will be a paradox.
"The Green Carnation" by Robert Smythe Hichens
We laughed amazingly at your epigrammatic witticisms; your reputation is already established here.
"Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 356, June, 1845" by Various
That sounds almost epigrammatic.
"Found in the Philippines" by Charles King
In epigrammatic power, it was the strongest summary of the demands of the South.
"Robert Toombs" by Pleasant A. Stovall
His tone was positive, his phrases epigrammatic, and I applauded heartily.
"A Son of the Middle Border" by Hamlin Garland
Where were those epigrammatic utterances?
"The Time of Roses" by L. T. Meade
This is the whole song, and nothing but the song: for negro melodies, of which the above is a specimen, are essentially epigrammatic.
"The Pearl of the Antilles, or An Artist in Cuba" by Walter Goodman
At the same time Mr. Snyder's epigrammatic remarks impressed him.
"A Great Man" by Arnold Bennett
We retain from Burke to-day the sonorous generalisations, the epigrammatic maxims, which each of us applies in his own way.
"Shelley, Godwin and Their Circle" by H. N. Brailsford
Occasionally he is epigrammatic "Strong enemies," he says in one place, "are better to us than weak friends.
"Flowers of Freethought" by George W. Foote
***

In news:

Oscar Wilde's plays bristle with epigrammatic wit, but many of his short stories, despite dollops of irony, are unashamedly romantic.
villagevoice.com
***

Related words