laconicism

Noun

laconism (countable and uncountable, plural laconisms)

1. (rhetoric, uncountable) Extreme brevity in expression.
   • “Well, where have you been?” he said to her with offhand laconism.1886, Thomas Hardy, chapter 20, in The Mayor of Casterbridge

   Synonyms:

   conciseness, laconicism, succinctness, brevity, briefness, concision, laconicalness, laconicity, terseness

2. (countable) A very or notably brief expression.
   • The hand of PROVIDENCE writes often by abbreviatures, hieroglyphicks or short characters, which, like the Laconism on the wall, are not to be made out but by a hint or key from that SPIRIT which indited them.1716, Thomas Browne, edited by Samuel Johnson, Christian Morals, 2nd edition, London: J. Payne, published 1756, Part I, p. 37

   Synonyms:

   brevity, epigram