Happening now and then in so laconic a way (10)

I believe the answer is:

occasional

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'happening' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'now and then in so laconic a way' is the wordplay.
'so laconic a' can be anagrammed to 'OCCASIONAL'.
However, I am unsure how this is indicated.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for occasional that I've seen before include "Periodical" , "infrequent" , "Occurring at intervals" , "Periodic" , "table of a sort" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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