laconic: [16] The Greek term for an inhabitant of the ancient region of Laconia, in the southern Peloponnese, and of its capital Sparta, was Lákōn. The Spartans were renowned for not using two words where one would do (there is a story that when Philip of Macedon threatened invasion with ‘If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta to the ground’, the Spartans’ only reply was ‘If’), and so English used the adjective laconic (from Greek Lakōnikós) for ‘sparing of speech’.
laconic (adj.)
"concise, abrupt," 1580s, probably via Latin Laconicus, from Greek Lakonikos, from Lakon "person from Lakonia," the district around Sparta in southern Greece in ancient times, whose inhabitants were famously proud of their brevity of speech. When Philip of Macedon threatened them with, "If I enter Laconia, I will raze Sparta to the ground," the Spartans' reply was, "If." An earlier form was laconical (1570s). Related: Laconically.
例文
1. Do you know the word LACONIC ？
「 LACONIC 」という単語を知っていますか？
英語朝読み30分（中学3年）
2.Usually so laconic in the office，Dr.Lahey seemed less guarded，more relaxed.
普段オフィスで無口なライヒ医師は少し堅苦しく、少し楽になったようだ。
3. "At least we weren't kidnapped.「-」I 'm glad of that，"was the laconic response.
「少なくとも私たちは誘拐されていない」――「これには喜んでいます」という短い一言だ。
4.A slight frown and a laconic 'Yes，'were the answer.