terse
11terse — ► ADJECTIVE (terser, tersest) ▪ sparing in the use of words; abrupt. DERIVATIVES tersely adverb terseness noun. ORIGIN originally in the sense «polished, trim»: from Latin tersus wiped, polished …
12terse — [tʉrs] adj. terser, tersest [L tersus, wiped off, clean, pp. of tergere, to wipe < IE * terg < base * ter , to rub, turn: see THROW] 1. free of superfluous words; concise in a polished, smooth way; succinct 2. brief or concise to the point… …
13terse — adjective we were offended by her terse answers Syn: brief, short, to the point, concise, succinct, crisp, pithy, incisive, trenchant, short and sweet, laconic, elliptical; brusque, abrupt, curt, clipped, blunt, pointed …
14terse — [[t]tɜ͟ː(r)s[/t]] terser, tersest ADJ GRADED A terse statement or comment is brief and unfriendly. He issued a terse statement, saying he is discussing his future with colleagues before announcing his decision on Monday... His tone was terse as… …
15terse — UK [tɜː(r)s] / US [tɜrs] adjective Word forms terse : adjective terse comparative terser superlative tersest a terse statement or remark is very short and often shows that the person making it is annoyed Derived word: tersely adverb …
16terse — adjective (terser; tersest) Etymology: Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to wipe off Date: 1601 1. smoothly elegant ; polished 2. devoid of superfluity < a terse summary >; also short, brusque …
17terse — adjective /tɜːs,tɝːs/ a) Brief, concise, to the point. He gave a terse, one word answer. b) Abruptly or brusquely short. Few writers were so terse. Syn: abrupt …
18terse — [17] Terse originally meant ‘polished, smooth’ (‘This man … so laboured upon it that he left it smooth and terse’, Helkiah Crooke, Description of the Body of Man 1615). By the 18th century, however, the associated notion of ‘neatness’ had led on… …
19terse — adjective a terse reply, message etc uses very few words and often shows that you are annoyed: Derek s terse reply ended the conversation. tersely adverb: “Continue!” he said tersely. terseness noun (U) …
20terse — [tɜːs] adj a terse statement or remark is very short and shows that you are annoyed a terse reply[/ex] tersely adv …
