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definitions

succinct

[ suh k-singkt ]
/ səkˈsɪŋkt /
|
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adjective

expressed in few words; concise; terse.
characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity.
compressed into a small area, scope, or compass.
Archaic.
  1. drawn up, as by a girdle.
  2. close-fitting.
  3. encircled, as by a girdle.

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RELATED WORDS

terse, curt, pithy, blunt, concise, brusque, compact, compendious, condensed, laconic, short, summary, breviloquent

Nearby words

  1. succession, apostolic,
  2. successive,
  3. successively,
  4. successor,
  5. succinate,
  6. succinctly,
  7. succinctorium,
  8. succinic,
  9. succinic acid,
  10. succinite

Origin of succinct

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin succinctus, past participle of succingere to gird, gather up (one's clothes), prepare for action, equivalent to suc- suc- + cing(ere) to gird, equip + -tus past participle suffix
Related formssuc·cinct·ly, adverbsuc·cinct·ness, nounun·suc·cinct, adjectiveun·suc·cinct·ly, adverb

Synonym study

1, 2. See concise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for succinct

British Dictionary definitions for succinct

succinct

/ (səkˈsɪŋkt) /

adjective

marked by brevity and clarity; concise
compressed into a small area
archaic
  1. encircled by or as if by a girdle
  2. drawn up tightly; closely fitting
Derived Formssuccinctly, adverbsuccinctness, noun

Word Origin for succinct

C15: from Latin succinctus girt about, from succingere to gird from below, from sub- from below + cingere to gird
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for succinct

succinct

adj.

early 15c., "having one's belt fastened tightly," from Middle French succincte, from Latin succinctus "prepared, ready, contracted, short," past participle of succingere "tuck up (clothes for action), gird from below," from sub "up from under" (see sub-) + cingere "to gird" (see cinch). Sense of "brief, concise" first recorded early 15c.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper