Make Your Point > Archived Issues > LACONIC
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LACONIC:
Say it "luh CON ick."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
From the Firefly episode called "War Stories:"
Wash: "Whatever Zoe would do in this instance is what I want to do. And you know why? Because no matter how ugly it gets, you two always come back with the stories. So I'm Zoe. Now. What do I do?"
Mal: "Probably not talk quite so much."
Wash: "Right. Less talking. She's t____. I can be t____. Once, in flight school, I was laconic."
Can you recall that one-syllable synonym of laconic? If you're not sure, give it a click.
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
In ancient Greece, people from an area near Sparta called Lakonia (or "Laconia") were known for using very few words to express themselves. And so, today, when we call someone laconic, we mean they get their points across in very few words.
Let's check out the classic example of people from Lakonia being laconic, from Plutarch's essay "On Talkativeness:"
When Philip wrote to them, "If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out," they wrote back, "If."
Oh, snap! That comeback is good enough for a meme...and a decorative pillow.
So, coming back to our definition:
Something or someone laconic uses very few words and gets straight to the point.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "her laconic manner," "the laconic main character."
Other forms:
Laconically, laconicism.
how to use it:
This word is semi-common. It's sophisticated, and it often has a positive tone: laconic people, and the laconic things they say, often display wit, sass, or intellect.
You might talk about laconic people or characters, laconic explanations or descriptions, laconic banter or dialogue, laconic storytelling and narration, etc. Classically, though, the things we most often label "laconic" are responses: answers, replies, or comebacks.
examples:
"The envelope, still retaining a faint reminder of the perfumed scent given it thirty years before, bore the laconic endorsement, 'Poem—I like this,' in the handwriting of Mr. Lincoln."
— William H. Herndon and Jesse W. Weik, Abraham Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, 1888
"In 2015, Sam Smith belatedly realized that the chorus of his hit 'Stay With Me' had all too much in common with 'I Won’t Back Down,' written by Mr. Petty and Mr. Lynne; he quickly shared the songwriting credit. 'A musical accident, no more no less,' Mr. Petty wrote in a typically laconic statement."
— Jon Pareles, New York Times, 3 October 2017
has this page helped you understand "laconic"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "laconic" without saying "succinct" or "pithy."
try it out:
Talk about a laconic fictional character that you like, and give some examples of the laconic things they say.
Maybe you'll talk about Farmer Hoggett ("That'll do, pig"), or Wednesday Addams ("Are they made from real Girl Scouts?").
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game this month is Perfectly Cromulent Words!
In each issue this month, match a scene from The Simpsons to the term that it calls to mind.
To see the answer, scroll to the bottom of the issue.
Try this one today:
Does the scene below suggest the word neologism, solecism, or phatic?
review this word:
1. A few near opposites of LACONIC include
A. ACRIMONIOUS and BITTER.
B. UPROARIOUS and CHAOTIC.
C. GARRULOUS and LONG-WINDED.
2. According to Thomas May of the New York Times, the composer George Walker "cultivated a distinctively laconic style purged of _____."
A. grit
B. excess
C. trendiness
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
Say it "luh CON ick."
From the Firefly episode called "War Stories:"
In ancient Greece, people from an area near Sparta called Lakonia (or "Laconia") were known for using very few words to express themselves. And so, today, when we call someone laconic, we mean they get their points across in very few words. When Philip wrote to them, "If I invade Laconia, I shall turn you out," they wrote back, "If."
Part of speech:
This word is semi-common. It's sophisticated, and it often has a positive tone: laconic people, and the laconic things they say, often display wit, sass, or intellect.
"The envelope, still retaining a faint reminder of the perfumed scent given it thirty years before, bore the laconic endorsement, 'Poem—I like this,' in the handwriting of Mr. Lincoln."
Explain the meaning of "laconic" without saying "succinct" or "pithy."
Talk about a laconic fictional character that you like, and give some examples of the laconic things they say.
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
1. A few near opposites of LACONIC include
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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