from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Brief \Brief\ (br[=e]f), a. [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L.
brevis; akin to Gr. brachy`s short, and perh. to Skr. barh to
tear. Cf. {Breve}.]
1. Short in duration.
[1913 Webster]
How brief the life of man. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Concise; terse; succinct.
[1913 Webster]
The brief style is that which expresseth much in
little. --B. Jonson.
[1913 Webster]
3. Rife; common; prevalent. [Prov. Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
{In brief}. See under {Brief}, n.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Short; concise; succinct; summary; compendious;
condensed; terse; curt; transitory; short-lived.
[1913 Webster]
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Brief \Brief\ (br[=e]f), n. [See {Brief}, a., and cf. {Breve}.]
1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few
words.
[1913 Webster]
Bear this sealed brief,
With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
And she told me
In a sweet, verbal brief. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. An epitome.
[1913 Webster]
Each woman is a brief of womankind. --Overbury.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Law) An abridgment or concise statement of a client's
case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial
at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the
heads or points of a law argument.
[1913 Webster]
It was not without some reference to it that I
perused many a brief. --Sir J.
Stephen.
[1913 Webster]
Note: In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in
the United States, counsel generally make up their own
briefs.
[1913 Webster]
4. (Law) A writ; a breve. See {Breve}, n., 2.
[1913 Webster]
5. (Scots Law) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to
any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge
to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their
verdict to pronounce sentence.
[1913 Webster]
6. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a
collection or charitable contribution of money in
churches, for any public or private purpose. [Eng.]
[1913 Webster]
7. pl. a type of men's underpants without legs, fitting
tightly and held by an elastic waistband; also called
{Jockey shorts}.
[PJC]
{Apostolical brief}, a letter of the pope written on fine
parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the
secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," i. e.,
"from the day of the Nativity," and sealed with the ring
of the fisherman. It differs from a bull, in its
parchment, written character, date, and seal. See {Bull}.
{Brief of title}, an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds
and other papers constituting the chain of title to any
real estate.
{In brief}, in a few words; in short; briefly. "Open the
matter in brief." --Shak.
[1913 Webster]