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Concise

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means giving much information clearly in few words

Where does the word "concise" come from? It comes from Latin concisus, adopted directly into English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
concisus
Latin · ancient
"cut off"
past participle of 'concidere', to cut up
2
Stage 2 of 2
concise
English · 1590s
"brief"
the Concise Oxford Dictionary appeared in 1911
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Read the full story

Concise’s story begins in Latin: concisus meant “cut off.” Past participle of 'concidere', to cut up. It reached English by 1590s as concise. The Concise Oxford Dictionary appeared in 1911. Today, concise means giving much information clearly in few words.