Learn-A-Word Wednesday: gnomic \NOH-mik\

adjective:

Uttering, containing, or characterized by maxims; wise and pithy.

A long pause, during which the group reflects on this gnomic pronouncement.
– Ruth Shalit, “Send in the clowns”, Salon, June 21, 2000

Gnomic derives from Greek gnomikos, from gnome, “intelligence, hence an expressed example of intelligence,” from gignoskein, “to know.”

gnome_wideblog.jpgI know what you thought, but no, this doesn’t just mean someone short with a red hat.
Unless he or she is saying wise and pithy comments, apparently.

According to this definition, you can have gnomic gnomes.

Hey, is that what our kids are?

Just watch out for that pointy hat. They’re not afraid to use it.

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2 Responses to Learn-A-Word Wednesday: gnomic \NOH-mik\

  1. Following your post on a kid’s penchant for using BUTT as often as possible, I don’t think I’d classify them as being particularly “wise and pithy.”

    Mine, at least, aren’t very gnomic.