Sententious

Adjective

Definition: Expressing a lot in few words; concise and pithy.

Synonyms: Terse, Concise, Epigrammatic

Antonyms: Verbose, Long-winded, Wordy

Examples:

His sententious remarks always left a lasting impact on the audience.
The book is filled with sententious sayings and moral lessons.

Mnemonics:

"Sententious" sounds similar to "sentence," which can remind you of concise and pithy expressions.

Etymology:

Origin:

Middle English, from the Latin word "sententiosus," from "sententia" meaning "opinion, thought, or saying."

Historical Usage:

The term has been used since Middle English to describe concise and pithy expressions, especially in moral or ethical contexts.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Sententious preaching"

Explanation:

Refers to preaching that is filled with moralizing or didactic phrases, often delivered in a concise and pithy manner.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing "sententious" with "pretentious."

Explanation:

While the two words sound similar, "sententious" refers to brevity and concise expression, while "pretentious" means attempting to impress others with greater importance or talent than is actually possessed.