TERSENESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does terseness mean? 

• TERSENESS (noun)
  The noun TERSENESS has 1 sense:

1. a neatly short and concise expressive style

  Familiarity information: TERSENESS used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TERSENESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A neatly short and concise expressive style

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("terseness" is a kind of...):

expressive style; style (a way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "terseness"):

conciseness; concision; pithiness; succinctness (terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words)

crispness (an expressive style that is direct and to the point)

brevity (the use of brief expressions)

laconicism; laconism (terseness of expression)

Antonym:

verboseness (an expressive style that uses excessive or empty words)

Derivation:

terse (brief and to the point; effectively cut short)

 Context examples 

“Impossible! I never can call you any thing but 'Mr. Knightley.' I will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness of Mrs. Elton, by calling you Mr. K. But I will promise,” she added presently, laughing and blushing—“I will promise to call you once by your Christian name.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)