telegraphic

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-der. Ancient Greek τῆλε (têle)lbor. French télé- Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō Ancient Greek γράφω (gráphō) Ancient Greek -γράφος (-gráphos)bor. Latin -graphuslbor. French -graphe French télégraphebor. English telegraph Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English telegraphic From telegraph + -ic.

1. Of, or relating to the telegraph.

   “It turned out to be no more than the weekly Reuter’s telegram sent as an ordinary letter from the nearest telegraphic office fifty miles away.”

2. Brief or concise, especially resembling a telegram with clipped syntax.

   “Her conversation, I soon found, was couched in the telegraphic style. “Weeds grow like house afire. Can’t keep even with ’em. Shall press you in. Better be careful.””

   “This section is based on […] I am presenting the facts in a telegraphic fashion; for the sources, discussion and disagreements see the five scholars I listed.”