v. [ad. Gr. λακωνίζειν, f. Λάκων LACONIAN: see -IZE.]
1. intr. To favor the Lacedæmonians; to imitate their customs or mode of speech; to side with them in politics.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 205. If he be disposed to laconize a little … he would … say: He is not.
1793–1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 392/1. The philosopher assures those who in other cities imagined they laconised … that they were grossly deceived.
2. trans. To bring under the Lacedæmonian dominion or form of government.
a. 1873. Lytton, Pausanias, II. iii. (1878), 420. We will Laconise all Hellas.
Hence Laconizing vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1792–1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 393/1. The very instances which Plato supplies of this ‘laconising’ are two most venerable proverbs.
1869. A. W. Ward, trans. Curtius’ Hist. Greece, II. III. ii. 372. The dangerous consequences of his Laconizing tendency.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 118. The mistake of the Laconizing set in supposing [etc.].
