Laconic
adj1
Of or relating to ancient Laconia in Greece.
laconic
adjalso spelled LaconicUK /ləˈkɒnɪk/ · US /ləˈkɑnɪk/
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.
1
Of speech or writing, communicative through the use of as few words as possible.
- Near-synonym: brief
2
Of a speaker or writer, communicating through the use of as few words as possible.
- Near-synonyms: taciturn, untalkative, terse, quiet, spartan
- I grow laconick even beyond laconicism; for sometimes I return only yes, or no, to questionary or petitionary epistles of half a yard long.August 17, 1736, Alexander Pope, letter to Jonathan Swift:
1 more example
- His sense was strong and his style laconic.1738, Zachary Grey, An Attempt towards the Character of the Royal Martyr King Charles I:
3
Australia, Proscribed, Sometimes Of a person, laidback; casual; not intense.
- 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.2022 June 15, Donal Wilson, “Mid-season review: Brisbane Lions”, in Roar:
- Related terms
- laconical, laconically, laconism