Terse

Pronunciation: /tɜrs/

Definitions of terse

adjective brief and to the point; effectively concise

Example Sentences

A1 She gave a terse reply when asked about her plans for the weekend.

A2 The teacher's instructions were terse and easy to follow.

B1 The CEO's terse email left no room for misinterpretation.

B2 His terse response indicated that he was not interested in further discussion.

C1 The author's writing style is known for its terse and impactful prose.

C2 The diplomat's terse statement conveyed a sense of urgency and importance.

Examples of terse in a Sentence

formal The lawyer's terse response left no room for further questions.

informal She gave a terse 'no' when asked if she wanted to go out.

slang He shot me a terse look that said it all.

figurative The painting's beauty lay in its terse strokes of color.

Grammatical Forms of terse

• past tense: terse
• plural: terses
• comparative: terser
• superlative: tersest
• present tense: is terse
• future tense: will be terse
• perfect tense: has been terse
• continuous tense: is being terse
• singular: terse
• positive degree: terse
• infinitive: to be terse
• gerund: terseing
• participle: terse

Origin and Evolution of terse

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'terse' originated from the Latin word 'tersus' which means 'clean' or 'neat'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'terse' has evolved to mean concise, succinct, or to the point, reflecting the original idea of cleanliness and neatness in communication.