ˈtərs, ˈtə̄s, ˈtəis adjective
Etymology: Latin tersus clean, neat, from past participle of tergēre to rub off, wipe; akin to Gothic thairko hole, Greek trōgein to gnaw, trōglē hole, cave, Latin terere to rub — more at throw
1.
a. archaic : freed of debris or roughness : clean , burnished
enamored of this street … 'tis so polite and terse — Ben Jonson
b. : smoothly elegant : polished , refined
clinging, with a true instinct for style, to what is terse and elliptic — C.E.Montague
the more lapidary and terse this subject the better it is suited for symphonic elaboration — P.H.Lang
2. : devoid of superfluity : brief , concise
his answers were very clipped and terse — Raymond Boyle
occasional terse volleys of rifle fire — H.E.Bates
keep the copy short, terse and easy to read — Printers' Ink
Synonyms: see concise