brevis Latin · revision 5056

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *mrǵʰ-ú-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈbrɛ.wɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbrɛː.vis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''brevis''' (neuter breve, comparative brevior, superlative brevissimus, adverb breviter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*mreχ-u(-i-)]], [[inh|ine-pro|*mrǵʰ-ú-|t=short]].^(de Vaan 2008) The PIE ''u''-stem adjective was extended with *-i- in prehistoric Latin, as in [[dulcis]], [[gravis]] and [[tenuis]], and took the e-grade, perhaps from the comparative and superlative, giving *mreǵʰu-i- and then *breghwi-.^(de Vaan 2008) The old superlative survives as [[brūma]] “the shortest day, winter solstice”, which de Vaan derives from *mreǵʰ-is-mHo-.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[sa|मुहु|tr=múhu|t=suddenly]], [[grc|βραχύς|tr=brakhús|t=short]], [[goh|murg|t=short]] and [[ang|myrġe|t=briefly]], the source of [[en|merry]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) who uses it of a short time: “brief is the space for bearing what you threaten me with”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was used of short length in space, of things close together, of small amounts, of short journeys and, above all, of brief periods of time.^(OLD 2012) It also meant low or shallow, and in metre it described a short syllable.^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein distinguishes ''brevis'', short by nature, from [[curtus]], shortened.^(Döderlein 1874) Varro already connected ''brūma'' with it, because the shortest day falls then.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ As a noun, ''breve'' or ''brevis'' became a short list or summary in Late Latin,^(Gaffiot 2016) and in medieval Latin a summary, a catalogue, a short note and a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976) From it come [[it|breve]] and [[fr|bref]], and through Old French the [[en|brief]] and [[en|breve]].^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a brief span of time.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro explains ''brūma'' as the time when the day is shortest.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * Late Latin – ''breve'' is used for a short list or summary.^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ * c. 1300 – English ''bref'', “of short duration”, is recorded, ''breve'' is used for a letter of authority.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|short]] in length; small in extent.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of things in a series)'' Close together.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of amounts)'' Small, little.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of journeys)'' Short, quick.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of time)'' [[m|en|brief]], of short duration.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(of height or depth)'' Low, [[m|en|shallow]].^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(metre)'' Short (of a syllable).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Late Latin)'' A short list, [[m|en|summary]].^(Wiktionary)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A catalogue; a short note; a charter.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[breviloquēns]]

+ * [[breviloquium]]

+ * [[breviloquus]]

+ * [[breviō]]

+ * [[brevitās]]

+ * [[breviter]]

+ * [[brūma]]

+ * [[perbrevis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[breviārium]]

+ * [[breviārius]]

+ * [[breviātiō]]

+ * [[breviātor]]

+ * [[en|brief]]

+ * [[en|abbreviate]]

+ * [[en|merry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}