Pithy

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈpɪθi/

Definitions

1. Succinct and impactful in expression, this adjective indicates language that is both terse and rich in meaning
2. Characterized by a concise style that conveys significant ideas effectively, this term reflects sharpness in communication
3. Concise yet powerful in its expression, this term describes language that is both brief and loaded with meaning

Etymology: Pith is the soft white fibrous layer beneath the skin of a citrus fruit, and also the spongy core of certain plants. Its older sense reached beyond the physical: "pith" could mean the essential strength or substance of something, the core of its matter. Adding the suffix "-y" to "pith" produced an adjective meaning full of pith, so something pithy was once full of substance, vigorous and forceful, before the sense narrowed to the modern idea of saying a great deal in very few words. The word appeared in Middle English as "pythy" or "pithy," and the Middle English Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary both record these early forms. The noun "pith" itself is much older, reaching back to Old English, so the adjective is a simple, transparent formation built on that long-standing base.

Synonyms: concise, terse, succinct, brief, crisp

Antonyms: verbose, wordy, long-winded