succinct
[suh k-singkt]
- expressed in few words; concise; terse.
- characterized by conciseness or verbal brevity.
- compressed into a small area, scope, or compass.
- Archaic.
- drawn up, as by a girdle.
- close-fitting.
- encircled, as by a girdle.
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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
Synonym study
1, 2. See concise.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for succinct
Contemporary Examples
The scenes are succinct, by and large; the patter of the characters rolls right along, whether you catch their drift or not.
Her few comments to the press included a succinct summary of her views on capital punishment.
Her verdict was succinct: “They are not clothes for playing in, they are clothes for showing off at the airport.”
Then, a succinct slaying of the awful "We Built That" meme which so awkwardly defined the convention in Tampa.
He failed to come up with a succinct new indictment à la Reagan's "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
Historical Examples
This is the most succinct account that we can give of him and his affairs.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
"Better let this Miss Dean alone," was Laura's succinct advise.
Marjorie Dean, College SophomorePauline Lester
This succinct account will not prove unacceptable, we hope, to our readers.
Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.Pierce Egan
Presents the subject of astronomy in a succinct, popular form.
A Field Book of the StarsWilliam Tyler Olcott
A succinct statement of the essentials of the New Testament.
The ConvertElizabeth Robins
succinct
- marked by brevity and clarity; concise
- compressed into a small area
- archaic
- encircled by or as if by a girdle
- drawn up tightly; closely fitting
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for 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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper