Word of the Day

Tuesday, December 17, 2002

succinct

\suhk-SINGKT\ , adjective;

Characterized by compressed precise expression with no wasted words; brief; concise.

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Quotes:

Susan was many things, and almost all of them wondrous, but she was not succinct. I minded this less than I might have, because I loved to listen to her talk.

-- Robert B. Parker, Sudden Mischief

Then Colin Powell stepped forward and gave the president the most succinct national security briefing of Ronald Reagan's entire presidency. "The world is quiet today, Mr. President," said Powell.

-- Michael Reagan with Jim Denney, The City on a Hill

Origin:

Succinct is from Latin succinctus, past participle of succingere, "to gird below or from below, to tuck up," from sub-, "below, under" + cingere, "to gird."