Terse

Adjective

Definition: Brief and to the point; effectively concise.

Synonyms: Concise, Succinct, Pithy

Antonyms: Verbose, Long-winded, Wordy

Examples:
  • His speech was terse but impactful.
  • The article provided a terse summary of the research findings.
Mnemonics:
  • Think of someone speaking in short, curt sentences to get their point across quickly.

Etymology:

Origin:

Late 16th century, from Latin 'tersus' (wiped off, polished).

Historical Usage:

The word has retained its meaning of being concise and polished throughout its history.

Related Idioms:

Idiom:

"Brevity is the soul of wit"

Explanation:

This phrase, commonly attributed to William Shakespeare, emphasizes the effectiveness of concise and to-the-point communication.

Misconceptions:

Misconception:

Confusing 'terse' with being rude or unfriendly.

Explanation:

While terse language may seem abrupt, it is mainly focused on conveying information succinctly rather than being impolite.

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