[f. as prec. + -NESS.] Concise quality; brevity, terseness.
1659. O. Walker, Oratory, 35. Such a conciseness, not only avoiding … Tautology, but savouring of … acuteness, force, and clearness.
1685. Dryden, Pref. 2nd Misc. The Latine Poet, made it his business to reach the conciseness of Demosthenes the Greek Oratour.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 157, ¶ 7. An old clergyman, who rightly conjectured the reason of my conciseness.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Manners, Wks. (Bohn), II. 50. They value themselves … on conciseness and going to the point, in private affairs.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, vii. 89. What is slang but an effort at conciseness?
