brief

Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to: navigation, search
See also Brief

Contents

English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Old French brief, from Latin brevis (short). Compare French bref.

Pronunciation [edit]

Adjective [edit]

brief (comparative more brief, superlative most brief)

  1. Of short duration; happening quickly. [from 15th c.]
    • 2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, New York Times:
      That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.
  2. Concise; taking few words. [from 15th c.]
  3. Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short. [from 17th c.]
    • 1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin 2009, p. 17:
      On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks.

Synonyms [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Related terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Noun [edit]

brief (plural briefs)

  1. (law) A writ summoning one to answer to any action.
  2. (law) An answer to any action.
    • 1996 The Japanese Rule of Civil Procedure, Article 79 (1):
      A written answer or any other brief shall be submitted to the court while allowing a period necessary for the opponent to make preparations with regard to the matters stated therein.
  3. (law) A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
  4. (law) An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
  5. (English law) The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
  6. (informal) A short news story or report.
    • We got a news brief.
  7. (obsolete) A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
    • 1589 Thomas Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie 5:
      A survey of their follie, a briefe of their barbarisme.

Derived terms [edit]

Translations [edit]

References [edit]

Verb [edit]

brief (third-person singular simple present briefs, present participle briefing, simple past and past participle briefed)

  1. (transitive) To summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.
    The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.
  2. (transitive, law) To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.

Translations [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Adverb [edit]

brief (comparative more brief, superlative most brief)

  1. (obsolete, poetic) Briefly.
    • Milton
      Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief.
  2. (obsolete, poetic) Soon; quickly.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)

External links [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Dutch [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Middle Dutch brief which is borrowed from Latin brevis (short).[1]

See also English brief and German Brief.

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

brief m (plural brieven, diminutive briefje)

  1. letter (written message)

Derived terms [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ brief; in: J. de Vries & F. de Tollenaere, "Etymologisch Woordenboek", Uitgeverij Het Spectrum, Utrecht, 1986 (14de druk)

Middle French [edit]

Adjective [edit]

brief m (feminine singular briefve, masculine plural briefs, feminine plural briefves)

  1. brief; short

Old French [edit]

Alternative forms [edit]

Etymology [edit]

Latin brevis, see English brief above.

Adjective [edit]

brief m (feminine brieve)

  1. brief; short in length

Declension [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Noun [edit]

brief m (oblique plural briés, nominative singular briés, nominative plural brief)

  1. (short) letter or statement
    • circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:
      A li brief al Conte enveié
      He sent the letter to the Count

Descendants [edit]