laconic

Where does the word "laconic" come from? It comes from Greek Lakonikos, passing through Latin before entering English (1580s).

Laconic’s story begins in Greek: Lakonikos meant “relating to Laconia, Sparta's region.” Relating to Laconia, the region around Sparta, whose people were famed for terse speech. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as Laconicus. Spartans of Laconia were famous for terse speech; to Philip of Macedon's threat 'if I enter Laconia', they replied 'If'. It reached English by 1580s as laconic. Settled as the English word for using very few words. Today, laconic means using very few words, concise to the point of terseness.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Lakonikos "relating to Laconia, Sparta's region", relating to Laconia, the region around Sparta, whose people were famed for terse speech.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient Laconicus "relating to Laconia", Spartans of Laconia were famous for terse speech; to Philip of Macedon's threat 'if I enter Laconia', they replied 'If'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1580s laconic "using very few words, terse", settled as the English word for using very few words.