terse — brief and clearly expressed; using few words
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: brief and clearly expressed; using few words
Pronunciation (IPA): /tɜːrs/
Example Sentences
- The coach's terse 'Run faster!' was all the motivation they needed.
- Her terse email contained only two words: 'Meeting cancelled.'
- The critic's terse review simply said: 'Don't watch this movie.'
terse
ADJECTIVE[/tɜːrs/]
brief and clearly expressed; using few words
His terse reply ended the conversation before it began.
One terse verse broke the curse!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'tersus', the past participle of 'tergere' meaning 'to wipe' or 'to clean'. The word evolved to mean concise and polished in expression, as if trimmed down to essentials.
Breakdown
Latin 'tersus' (wiped clean, polished) → English 'terse' (brief and clearly expressed, with unnecessary words removed)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The coach's terse 'Run faster!' was all the motivation they needed.”
“Her terse email contained only two words: 'Meeting cancelled.'”
“The critic's terse review simply said: 'Don't watch this movie.'”
“His terse writing style made the complex topic surprisingly easy to understand.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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