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.
1
Of short duration; happening quickly.
Her reign was brief but spectacular.
Some, how briefe the Life of man / runs his erring pilgrimage, / That the ſtretching of a ſpan, / buckles in his ſumme of age.c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
2 more examples
It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter X, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.2012 November 7, Matt Bai, “Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Jun 2020:
2
Concise; taking few words.
His speech of acceptance was brief but moving.
The briefe ſtyle is that which expreſſeth much in little.a. 1637, Ben Jonson, “Discoveries”, in The Works of Ben Jonson, volume 2, London: Richard Bishop, published 1641:
2 more examples
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
If Demandt's essay served as a strident example of the German desire for normalcy, a more subtle example was provided by a brief allohistorical depiction of a Nazi victory in World War II written by German historian Michael Salewski in 1999.2005 May 23, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld, The World Hitler Never Made: Alternate History and the Memory of Nazism, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 182:
3
Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
Her skirt was extremely brief but doubtless cool.
On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks.1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin, published 2009, page 17:
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.
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.1891 August 23, Henry Charles Lea, “A Colonial Inquisitor”, in The Atlantic, →ISSN, archived from the original on 24 Feb 2026:
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.1996, Japanese Rules of Civil Procedure, Article 79, Section 1
4
Law 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.1894 August 18, “The First Divorce of Henry VIII [book review]”, in The Speaker, volume 10, page 192:
6
Law An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
7
LawEnglish The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who is counsel for the case.
8
LawEnglish, 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.
Hie good ſir Mighell, beare this ſealed briefe / With winged haſte to the Lord Marſhall / This to my cooſen Scroope, and all the reſt / To whom they are directed.c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:
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 […]1589, Thomas Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie:
EACH woman is a brief of womankind, / And doth in little e’en as much contain, / As in one day and night all life we find ; / Of either more is but the ſame again […]a. 1613, Sir Thomas Overbury, “A Wife”, in The Miscellaneous Works in Verse and Prose of Sir Thomas Overbury, Knt. with Memoir of his Life, 10th edition, London: W. Owen, published 1756, page 23:
13
UK, Historical A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
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.
1
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.
Lubbers was briefed by Shanghai Mayor Jiang Zemin on the city's economic situation, and this evening, Lubbers attended a banquet hosted by the Shanghai Municipal Governoment^([sic – meaning Government]).1987 May 18 [1987 May 15], “Visits Shanghai”, in Daily Report: China, volume I, number 095, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, sourced from Beijing XINHUA, →ISSN, →OCLC, People's Republic of China: International Affairs, page G 2:
1 more example
It is being briefed that Southeastern operations will return to the private sector, and that use of the Operator of Last Resort team will be a temporary arrangement.2021 October 20, Industry Insider, “The wheels turn slowly”, in RAIL, number 942, page 68:
2
Law To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.
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.
Whence Adam faultring long, thus anſwer’d brief.1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 115:
But that a ioy paſt ioy, calls out on me, / It were a griefe, to briefe to part with thee : / Farewell.c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], lines 173–175: