Daily Almanac for
Dec 5, 2009
Search White Pages
Search: Infoplease Info search tips
Search: Biographies Bio search tips
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—L

Laconic

Very concise and pithy. A Spartan was called a Lacon from Laconia, the land inwhich he dwelt. The Spartans were noted for their brusque and sententious speech. When Philip of Macedon wrote to the Spartan magistrates, “If I enter Laconia, I will level Lacedæmon to the ground,” the ephors wrote word back the single word, “If.” (See above Lacedæmonian Letter.)

In 1490 O'Neil wrote to O'Donnel: “Send me the tribute, or else.” To which O'Donnel replied: “I owe none, or else.”

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Lacustrine Deposits
Lackadaisical
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Laconic from Infoplease:

    • Cite
    • Print
    • Bookmark

Related Content