Final answer:
The word in the sentence that is the best clue to the meaning of terse is 'briefly'. Terse means using only a few words and speaking or writing in a concise manner. In this context, the principal's speech was terse because it only gave a short and to-the-point list of reasons for her disappointment in the senior class.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word in the sentence that is the best clue to the meaning of terse is briefly.
Terse means using only a few words and speaking or writing in a concise manner. In this context, the principal's speech was terse because it only gave a short and to-the-point list of reasons for her disappointment in the senior class.
Therefore, briefly helps to convey the meaning of terse by suggesting that the speech was not lengthy or detailed.
Learn more about Understanding the meaning of the word 'terse'