BRIEF, a. [L. brevis, when brevio, so shorten abbreviate. Brevis, in Latin, is doubtless contracted from the Gr.,whence to abridge. The Greek word coincides in elements with break.]

Short; concise; it is used chiefly of language, discourses, writings and time; as a brief space, a brief review of a book. Shakespeare applies it to wars, to nature, &c. A little brief authority is authority very limited.

BRIEF, n. [In this sense the word has been received into most of the languages of Europe.]

Short; concise; it is used chiefly of language, discourses, writings and time; as, a brief space, a brief review of a book. Shakespeare applies it to wars, to nature, &c. A little brief authority, is authority very limited.

1. An epitome; a short or concise writing. This is the general sense of the word, as explained by Zonaras on the council of Carthage. It was thus used as early as the third century after Christ. – Spelman. In modern times, an apostolical brief is a letter which the pope dispatches to a prince or other magistrate, relating to public affairs. A brief is distinguished from a bull, in being more concise, written on paper, sealed with red wax, and impressed with the seal of the fisherman or Peter in a boat. A bull is more ample, written on parchment, and sealed with lead or green wax. – Encyc.
2. In law, an abridgment of a client's case, made out for the instruction of council on a trial at law. – Encyc. Johnson. Also, a writ summoning a man to answer to any action; or any precept of the king in writing, issuing from any court, whereby he commands a thing to be done. – Cowel. In 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. – Encyc.
3. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a public collection or charitable contribution of money for any public or private purpose.
4. A writing in general. – Shak. In music, the word, if I mistake not, is now written breve.

1. Short in duration.
   
   

   How brief the life of man.
   Shak.

2. Briefly.
   
   
   [Obs. or Poetic]

   Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief.
   Milton.

3. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.
   
   

   Bear this sealed brief,
   With winged hastle, to the lord marshal.
   Shak.

   And she told me
   In a sweet, verbal brief.
   Shak.

4. To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief pleadings.
5. Concise; terse; succinct.
   
   

   The brief style is that which expresseth much in little.
   B. Jonson.

6. Soon; quickly.
   
   
   [Obs.] Shak.
7. An epitome.
   
   

   Each woman is a brief of womankind.
   Overbury.

8. Rife; common; prevalent.
   
   
   [Prov. Eng.]

   In brief. See under Brief, n.

   Syn. -- Short; concise; succinct; summary; compendious; condensed; terse; curt; transitory; short-lived.

9. 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.
   
   

   It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief.
   Sir J. Stephen.

   * In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs.

10. A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2.
11. 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.
12. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
    
    
    [Eng.]

    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.