Apothegm

{ Ap"o*thegm, Ap"oph*thegm } (?), 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.]