brief English · revision 4717

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300|origins=la brevis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /briːf/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|bref]], [[bor|fro|bref]], brief, and directly from [[la|brevis|t=short, low, little]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*mréǵʰus|alt=*mregh-u-|t=short]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the source also of Greek brachýs and Avestan mərəzu- “short” and Gothic gamaúrgjan “to cut short”.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) The noun is from Late Latin breve “letter, summary”, originally in breve scrīptum “short written note”, the neuter of brevis.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) It is related to [[abbreviate]], [[brevity]] and [[breve]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective, of short duration: about 1300 in Etymonline, probably before 1300 in Barnhart, in Arthour and Merlin;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) about 1325 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The noun, a writing issued by official or legal authority, a royal letter: 1292 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the early 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Short in length is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) and taking little time to say or read, concise, from about 1380.^(OED 1989) Late Latin breve came to mean a letter, especially a papal letter less solemn than a bull.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) From this official Latin it passed into all the Germanic languages: German Brief is now the ordinary word for a letter.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) In English the letter of authority gave the legal sense, a summary of the facts of a case for a barrister (1630s, the 17th century in Hoad).^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) A short written statement is from the 1560s.^(Etymonline) The verb, to put in the form of a brief, is from 1837, and to give instructions or information from 1866.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''Briefs'', short underpants, were first worn in the 1930s.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1292 – noun, an official letter.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1300 – adjective, of short duration.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1380 – concise.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1460 – a letter of the pope.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1560s – a short writing.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – a lawyer's brief.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1866 – verb, to instruct.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1930s – ''briefs''.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Lasting only a short time.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Using few words; [[concise]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Short in length: ''a brief skirt''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # Curt or abrupt.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(law)'' A document setting out the facts and arguments of a case, or the case given to a [[barrister]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A set of instructions for a task.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A short statement or summary.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(briefs)'' Short, close-fitting underpants.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To give someone information or instructions about something.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[briefer]]

+ * [[briefly]]

+ * [[briefness]]

+ * [[unbrief]]

+ * [[briefcase]]

+ * [[briefless]]

+ * [[debrief]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[brevi-]]

+ * [[brevity]]

+ * [[briefing]]

+ * [[abbreviate]]

+ * [[breve]]

+ * [[abridge]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}