from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Breviary \Bre"vi*a*ry\, n.; pl. {Breviaries}. [F. br['e]viarie,
L. breviarium summary, abridgment, neut. noun fr. breviarius
abridged, fr. brevis short. See {Brief}, and cf. {Brevier}.]
1. An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or
summary.
[1913 Webster]
A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those
roots that are to be cut up or gathered. --Holland.
[1913 Webster]
2. A book containing the daily public or canonical prayers of
the Roman Catholic or of the Greek Church for the seven
canonical hours, namely, matins and lauds, the first,
third, sixth, and ninth hours, vespers, and compline; --
distinguished from the missal.
[1913 Webster]