terse

Etymology

From the year 1599, from French ters (“clean”), from Latin tersus (“cleansed; neat, spruce”), perfect passive participle of tergō (“I rub, wipe, cleanse”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /tɜːs/
• (Canada, US) IPA^(key): /tɝːs/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)s

Adjective

terse (comparative terser, superlative tersest)

1. (obsolete) polish, burnished; smooth; fine, neat, spruce
2. (of speech or style) brief, concise, to the point
   • 1907, Rev. James Wood, The Nuttall Encyclopaedia, title page:

     "A consise and comprehensive dictionary of general knowledge consisting of over 16,000 terse and original articles on nearly all subjects discussed in larger encyclopaedias, […] "

   • 2012 June 4, Lewis Smith, “Queen's English Society says enuf is enough, innit?”, in the Guardian:

     Having attempted to identify a role for the society and its magazine, Quest, "for the next 40 years", the society chairman, Rhea Williams, decided it was time to close. She announced the group's demise in a terse message to members following the annual meeting, which just 22 people attended.

3. abruptly or brusquely short

Anagrams

• Ester, Reset, Steer, ester, estre, re-est., reest, reset, retes, seter, steer, stere, trees

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tɛʁs/
• Homophones: tersent, terses

Verb

terse

1. first-person singular present indicative of terser
2. third-person singular present indicative of terser
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of terser
4. first-person singular present subjunctive of terser
5. second-person singular imperative of terser

Anagrams

• ester, estre, êtres, reste, resté, stère, stéré

Verb

terse

1. third-person singular past historic of tergere

Participle

terse f pl

1. feminine plural of terso

Adjective

terse f pl

1. Feminine plural of adjective terso.

Anagrams

• Ester

Participle

terse

1. vocative masculine singular of tersus

Adjective

terse f pl

1. feminine plural of terso