\La*con"ic\, Laconical \La*con"ic*al\, a. [L. Laconicus
Laconian, Gr. ??, fr. ?? a Laconian, Laced[ae]monian, or
Spartan: cf. F. laconique.]
1. Expressing much in few words, after the manner of the
   Laconians or Spartans; brief and pithy; brusque;
   epigrammatic. In this sense laconic is the usual form.
         I grow laconic even beyond laconicism; for sometimes
         I return only yes, or no, to questionary or
         petitionary epistles of half a yard long. --Pope.
         His sense was strong and his style laconic.
                                               --Welwood.
2. Laconian; characteristic of, or like, the Spartans; hence,
   stern or severe; cruel; unflinching.
         His head had now felt the razor, his back the rod;
         all that laconical discipline pleased him well.
                                               --Bp. Hall.
Syn: Short; brief; concise; succinct; sententious; pointed;
     pithy.
Usage: {Laconic}, {Concise}. Concise means without irrelevant
       or superfluous matter; it is the opposite of diffuse.
       Laconic means concise with the additional quality of
       pithiness, sometimes of brusqueness.

\La*con"ic\, n.
Laconism. [Obs.] --Addison.