brief

      See also Brief

      English

      Etymology

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

      Pronunciation

      Adjective

      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

      Derived terms

      Related terms

      Translations

      of short duration
      concise
      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.
      Translations to be checked

      Noun

      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

      Translations

      a short news story or report

      References

      Verb

      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

      to summarize

      Derived terms

      Adverb

      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

      Anagrams

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      Dutch

      Etymology

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

      See also English brief and German Brief.

      Pronunciation

      Noun

      brief m (plural brieven, diminutive briefje)

      1. letter (written message)

      Derived terms

      References

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

      Adjective

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

      1. brief; short
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      Old French

      Alternative forms

      Etymology

      Latin brevis, see English brief above.

      Adjective

      brief m (feminine brieve)

      1. brief; short in length

      Declension

        Declension of brief  
      Number Case Masculine Feminine Neuter
      Singular Subject briés brieve brief
      Oblique brief brieve brief
      Plural Subject brief brieve brief
      Oblique briés brieves brief

      Derived terms

      Noun

      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

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      Last modified on 17 June 2013, at 23:57