epigrammatic
UK[ˌepɪɡrəˈmætɪk]US[ˌepɪɡrəˈmætɪk]
adj
expressed in a short, clever, and amusing way
adj
of or resembling an epigram; concise, witty, and often paradoxical
Morpheme Breakdown
epigram
mat
ic
epigram
mat
of, pertaining to, or in the manner of
ic
of, pertaining to, or in the manner of
Etymology
the word 'epigrammatic' traces its lineage to the greek 'epigramma', itself a compound of 'epi-' (upon) and 'graphein' (to write), originally denoting an inscription carved upon a monument or statue. the greek suffix '-mat-' was used to form nouns indicating the result of an action, giving 'epigramma' the sense of 'that which is written upon'. this evolved in latin and later english to signify a concise, pointed, and often witty poem. the english adjective 'epigrammatic' was formed by appending the adjectival suffix '-ic' to this core, shifting the meaning from the thing itself to the characteristic style of such writing—concise, clever, and pungent.
Analysis
Structure: epigram + mat + ic
epigram (from greek 'epigramma', meaning inscription or witty verse) + mat (from greek suffix '-mat-', relating to the result or product of an action) + ic (from greek '-ikos', forming adjectives meaning 'of, pertaining to, or in the manner of')
Examples
his speech was filled with epigrammatic wit, each sentence a perfectly crafted gem.
she has an epigrammatic style of writing that captures complex ideas in a few memorable words.
the reviewer praised the author's epigrammatic prose for its sharpness and clarity.