Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an accomplished manner.
  • In a terse manner; neatly; compactly; concisely.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a brief, concise, or to the point manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a short and concise manner

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The Republicans received what is described as a tersely worded letter indicating that they [Obama and the Democrats] had health care reform under control.

    Big Dogs House 2009

  • Against the Constitution, against the memory of the nation, against a previous decision, against a series of enactments he decided that the slave is property; that slave property is entitled to no less protection than any other property; that the Constitution upholds it in every Territory against any act of a local Legislature and even against Congress itself; or, as the President for that term tersely promulgated the saying: "Kansas is as much a slave State as South Carolina or Georgia; slavery, by virtue of the Constitution, exists in every Territory."

    Men of Maryland George Freeman 1914

  • Constitution, against the memory of the nation, against a previous decision, against a series of enactments, he decided that the slave is property; that slave property is entitled to no less protection than any other property; that the Constitution upholds it in every Territory against any act of a local legislature, and even against Congress itself; or, as the President for that term tersely promulgated the saying, "Kansas is as much a slave State as South Carolina or Georgia; slavery, by virtue of the Constitution, exists in every Territory."

    Memorial Address on the Life and Character of Abraham Lincoln Delivered at the request of both Houses of Congress of America George Bancroft 1845

  • “I need to speak to you both, tonight,” he said tersely.

    Haven Kristi Cook 2011

  • “I need to speak to you both, tonight,” he said tersely.

    Haven Kristi Cook 2011

  • Our experience of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, directed by Landon Johnson for Vespertine Productions at The Flight Theatre at The Complex Theatres, is not so much that of a fly on a wall; a fly's buzz would unbalance Johnson's tersely orchestrated suspense tale of two hit men in a Birmingham basement.

    James Scarborough: Hollywood Fringe: The Dumb Waiter, Vespertine Productions & Girl Band in the Men's Room, Dirty Blonde Productions James Scarborough 2011

  • Our experience of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, directed by Landon Johnson for Vespertine Productions at The Flight Theatre at The Complex Theatres, is not so much that of a fly on a wall; a fly's buzz would unbalance Johnson's tersely orchestrated suspense tale of two hit men in a Birmingham basement.

    James Scarborough: Hollywood Fringe: The Dumb Waiter, Vespertine Productions & Girl Band in the Men's Room, Dirty Blonde Productions James Scarborough 2011

  • The measure—tersely laid out in two paragraphs a 115-page bill outlining fiscal cuts aimed at balancing Italy's budget by 2014—would have allowed individuals and companies convicted in civil cases and ordered to pay civil damages of more than €20 million to suspend those payments until all the case's appeals processes are exhausted.

    Berlusconi Scraps Measure Seen as Favorable to His Firm Giada Zampano 2011

  • Our experience of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, directed by Landon Johnson for Vespertine Productions at The Flight Theatre at The Complex Theatres, is not so much that of a fly on a wall; a fly's buzz would unbalance Johnson's tersely orchestrated suspense tale of two hit men in a Birmingham basement.

    James Scarborough: Hollywood Fringe: The Dumb Waiter, Vespertine Productions & Girl Band in the Men's Room, Dirty Blonde Productions James Scarborough 2011

  • Our experience of Harold Pinter's The Dumb Waiter, directed by Landon Johnson for Vespertine Productions at The Flight Theatre at The Complex Theatres, is not so much that of a fly on a wall; a fly's buzz would unbalance Johnson's tersely orchestrated suspense tale of two hit men in a Birmingham basement.

    James Scarborough: Hollywood Fringe: The Dumb Waiter, Vespertine Productions & Girl Band in the Men's Room, Dirty Blonde Productions James Scarborough 2011

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