terse
UK: tɜːs | US: tɜːrs
adj. concise and to the point, often to the point of seeming rude or abrupt
terse = ters<polished, clean> + e (adjective suffix)
- ters (from Latin tersus, past participle of tergere "to wipe, polish") → Implies refinement or brevity.
- e (common adjectival suffix in English) → No standalone meaning; modifies the root.
Etymology Origin:
The word "terse" originated from Latin tersus, meaning "wiped clean" or "polished." Over time, it evolved to describe language that is neatly trimmed of excess—concise to the point of sharpness. The metaphorical shift from physical cleanliness to linguistic brevity reflects the idea of removing "unnecessary clutter" in speech or writing.
His terse reply left no room for further discussion.
The manager's email was terse but clear.
She preferred terse instructions over lengthy explanations.
The critic’s terse review disappointed the author.
In military reports, language is often deliberately terse.