dictum

Dictum (plural: dicta ) is an expression for a meaningful, pointed expression, actually what is said . The term originally comes from Latin and is the past participle of dicere , say.

Specifically denotes dictum

• a fixed doctrine in the sciences that is often tenaciously adhered to. As a rule, changing a dictum can only be enforced with a large number of unquestionable evidence and with great opposition. Nevertheless, the statement of such doctrines is in principle negotiable. The dictum differs from the dogma in terms of negotiability and thus the possibility of its abolition .
• an arrangement . This is also synonymous with the word dictate , from which the form of rule dictatorship is derived.

The generic term used in literary studies is apophthegma .

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Wiktionary: dictum  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations