pithiness
UK: ˈpɪθi.nəs | US: ˈpɪθi.nəs
n. the quality of being concise and meaningful; terseness
n. the essence or central part of something
The word "pithiness" derives from "pith," which originally referred to the soft, spongy tissue in plants (e.g., the white part of citrus rinds). Over time, "pith" metaphorically evolved to mean the "core" or "essential part" of an idea or statement. The suffix "-iness" (from Old English "-nes") transforms the adjective "pithy" into a noun, denoting the quality of being concise yet substantial. The progression reflects a shift from literal botanical meaning to abstract linguistic precision.
The pithiness of his speech made it memorable.
Her writing is admired for its clarity and pithiness.
The proverb’s pithiness conveys wisdom in few words.
Academic abstracts demand pithiness to summarize complex research.
The editor praised the article’s pithiness but suggested expanding some points.