[f. TERSE a. + -NESS.] The quality of being terse: † a. of being clean-cut; sharpness or smoothness of outline. Obs.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xv. (ed. 2), 294. The compactness of its form, arising from the terseness of its limbs.
1828. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. III. 183 (Hay-carrying). A well-made little man … with considerable terseness of feature.
b. Polish, elegance, or neatness of style; in mod. use, Neat and forcible conciseness.
1782. J. Warton, Ess. Pope, II. 314. Gay … wrote with neatness, and terseness.
1808. Han. More, Cœlebs, I. ii. 21. For giving a terseness and a polish to conversation … nothing is equal to the miscellaneous society of London.
1864. Sat. Rev., 31 Dec., 801/2. Landor had a … terseness and force of expression, which arrested the attention and won the admiration of his immediate contemporaries.
