Apophthegmatical

/ˌæpɑfθegˈmætɪkəl/ adjective

Definition

Of or relating to apophthegms; having the quality of being a brief, wise, and cleverly expressed saying.

Etymology

From apophthegmatic with the additional -al suffix, a variant form used in older English texts for emphasis or stylistic variation.

Kelly Says

The extra '-al' at the end is typical of how 17th-century writers loved to stack suffixes—'apophthegmatical' sounds even more fancy and learned than 'apophthegmatic,' which was probably the whole point in a world where showing off vocabulary proved education.

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