brief

brief
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English bref, breve, from Anglo-French bref, brief, from Latin brevis; akin to Old High German murg short, Greek brachys Date: 14th century 1. short in duration, extent, or length 2. a. concise b. curt, abruptbriefness noun II. noun Etymology: Middle English bref, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin brevis, from Late Latin, summary, from Latin brevis, adjective Date: 14th century 1. a. an official letter or mandate; especially a papal letter less formal than a bull b. a specific instruction or responsibility <
his brief was to strengthen the army
>
2. a. a concise article b. synopsis, summary c. a concise statement of a client's case made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law 3. an outline of an argument; especially a formal outline especially in law that sets forth the main contentions with supporting statements or evidence 4. plural short snug pants or underpants III. transitive verb Date: 15th century 1. to make an abstract or abridgment of 2. a. to give final precise instructions to b. to coach thoroughly in advance c. to give essential information to 3. to discuss (as a military operation) in a briefing <
briefed the mission
>
briefer noun

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • brief — 1 n [Old French bref brief letter, writ indicating legal proceedings, from Late Latin brevis breve short document, summary, from Latin brevis, adjective, short] 1: a concise statement of a client s case written for the instruction of an attorney… …   Law dictionary

  • 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,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • brief — adj Brief, short are the most comprehensive adjectives in English meaning not long. Brief refers pri marily to duration; short, to either duration or linear extent {a brief interview} {a short sermon} {a short distance} {short legs} …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • brief — [brēf] adj. [ME < OFr bref < L brevis < IE base * mreĝhu , short > MERRY, Gr brachys] 1. of short duration or extent 2. short in length 3. using relatively few words; concise 4. curt or abrupt n. [ …   English World dictionary

  • Brief — or briefs may refer: * Brief (law), a number of formal document types * Brief (text editor), a popular text editor for the MS DOS operating system * a letter * Brief (architecture), a requirement imposed by a client on an architect * Briefs, a… …   Wikipedia

  • Brief — der; (e)s, e; 1 eine meist relativ lange, persönliche schriftliche Mitteilung in einem Umschlag, die man an jemanden schickt <jemandem / an jemanden einen Brief schreiben; einen Brief diktieren, frankieren, einwerfen, per / als Einschreiben… …   Langenscheidt Großwörterbuch Deutsch als Fremdsprache

  • 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.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Brief — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Se conoce como brief a la información que la empresa envía a la agencia de publicidad para que genere una comunicación. Tiene que existir una relación estrecha y de confianza entre la empresa y la agencia de… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Brief — Sm std. (9. Jh.), mhd. brief, ahd. briaf, as. brēf n Entlehnung. Wie afr. brēf n., anord. bréf n. frühe Entlehnung aus l. breve n. kurzes Schreiben (zu l. brevis kurz ). Dabei geht g. ē2 auf gedehntes l. e zurück, f ist der Reflex von bereits… …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • brief — brief; brief·less; brief·ly; brief·ness; de·brief; …   English syllables

  • Brief — Brief: Mit der Buchstabenschrift, die die Germanen durch die Römer kennenlernten – die kulturgeschichtlichen Zusammenhänge sind unter ↑ schreiben aufgezeigt –, strömte eine Fülle von fremden Bezeichnungen aus dem Lat. in unseren Sprachbereich.… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

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