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brief

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brief

  • /ˈbɹiːf/ UK
  • [ˈbɹʷɪi̯f] UK
  • /ˈbɹif/ US
  • /ˈbɾif/ Scotland
  • /ˈbɾiːf/ Wales

Rhymes with -iːf

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-

Proto-Indo-European *-us

Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.

Proto-Italic *breɣʷis

Latin brevisder.

Old French briefbor.

Old French brievebor.

Middle English bref

English brief

From Middle English breef, breve, bref, from Old French brief, bref, from Latin brevis (“short”), from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus (“short, brief”). Doublet of breve and merry.

adjective briefer · more brief · briefest · most brief

  1. Of short duration; happening quickly. Her reign was brief but spectacular.
  2. Concise; taking few words. His speech of acceptance was brief but moving.
  3. Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short. On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks.
  4. obsolete Rife; common; prevalent.

noun briefs

  1. A writ summoning one to answer; an official letter or mandate.
  2. A short papal letter. It was in vain that the bishop published a new papal brief, declaring valid the excommunications which he had issued, and those of the inquisitors to be null, and requiring them to seek absolution from him.
  3. An answer to any action. 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.
  4. A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
  5. broadly, figuratively A position of interest or advocacy. Mrs. Hope was, we believe, a convert to the Roman Catholic Church, and neither she nor her editor conceals the fact that they hold a brief for the Pope and for Catharine against Henry VIII.
  6. An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
  7. English The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who is counsel for the case.
  8. English, slang A barrister who is counsel for a party in a legal action.
  9. A short news story or report. We got a news brief.
  10. plural normally Underwear briefs. I wear boxer shorts under trousers but for sports I usually wear a brief.
  11. attributive Attributive form of briefs.briefs All Brad Woodburn had on was his brief underwear.
  12. plural normally Swimming briefs.
  13. obsolete A summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract. […] euen ſo it fareth with mee, who béeing about to anatomize Abſurditie, am vrged to take a view of ſundry mens vanitie, a ſuruey of their follie, a briefe of their barbariſme […]
  14. UK, historical A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
  15. slang A ticket of any type.

verb briefs · briefing · 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 To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.

adverb more brief · most brief

  1. obsolete, poetic Briefly. Whence Adam faultring long, thus anſwer’d brief.
  2. obsolete, poetic Soon; quickly. But that a ioy paſt ioy, calls out on me, / It were a griefe, to briefe to part with thee : / Farewell.

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