gnomicaladj.1
/ˈnəʊmɪkəl/ = gnomic adj.1 Of a person: Given to uttering gnomes.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > saying, maxim, adage > [adjective] > given to uttering
gnomical1604
sententious1609
aphorisming1641
1604 Bp. W. Barlow Summe Conf. at Hampton Court (1604) 44 His Maiesty..adding this excellent, gnomical, and Canon-like Conclusion, that [etc.].
1641 J. Jackson True Evangelical Temper ii. 133 A speech..so gnomicall and waighty, that St. Augustin highly commends it.
1650 H. More Observ. in Enthusiasmus Triumphatus (1656) 134 In this whole page Anthroposophus is very Gnomicall, and speaks Aphorisms very gracefully.
1887 J. Knight in Dict. National Biogr. IX. 356/2 Her gnomical utterances are often thoughtful and pregnant.
Draft additions 1993
ˈgnomically adv.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > saying, maxim, adage > [adverb]
sententiously1481
gnomically1610
apophthegmatically1630
aphoristically1655
1610 H. Wotton Let. 29 Oct. in L. P. Smith Life & Lett. Sir H. Wotton (1907) I. 494 He began with me after a little pause, very gravely and gnomically in this manner.
1988 N. Lowndes Chekago ii. 57 ‘You need to watch your step’, said the porter gnomically. ‘Unless you know your way around.’
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
† gnomicaladj.2
Obsolete. rare.
= gnomonic adj.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > instruments for measuring time > [adjective] > of or relating to sundials
gnomonical1570
gnomonic1601
sandy1607
gnomical1611
stylar1614
sciatherical1615
direct1659
skiagraphical1690
sciatheric1700
solar1728
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Avantagé, Bien avantagé en nez Nosed with aduantage, well nose-growne, hauing a Gnomicall, or goodly long, nose.
1715 Boyle's Disquis. Final Causes ii, in Theol. Wks. II. 253 His Father may have supposed to have designedly furnished him with it for such incident occasions, that he might distinguish the South and North Points of the Horizon, which could not be done with an ordinary gnomical Dial.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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adj.11604
adj.21611