Brevity definition | Dictionary.com

brev⋅i⋅ty

[brev-i-tee]

–noun

1.	shortness of time or duration; briefness: the brevity of human life.

2.	the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness: Brevity is the soul of wit.

Origin:
1500–10; < AF brevite, OF brievete. See brief, -ity

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : Brevity

Spanish:

brevedad, concisión,

German:

die Kürze,

Japanese:

簡潔さ

View 30 other languages »

brev·i·ty (brěv'ĭ-tē) Pronunciation Key
n.

The quality or state of being brief in duration.
Concise expression; terseness.

[Latin brevitās, from brevis, short; see brief.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

brevity

1509, from L. brevitatem (nom. brevitas), from brevis "short" (see brief).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

brevity
noun
1.	the use of brief expressions
2.	the attribute of being brief or fleeting

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

Brevity

Brev"i*ty\, n.; pl. Brevities. [L. brevitas, fr. brevis short: cf. F. bri[`e]vit['e]. See Brief.]

1. Shortness of duration; briefness of time; as, the brevity of human life.

2. Contraction into few words; conciseness.

Brevity is the soul of wit. --Shak.

This argument is stated by St. John with his usual elegant brevity and simplicity. --Bp. Porteus.

Syn: Shortness; conciseness; succinctness; terseness.

Search another word or see Brevity on Thesaurus | Reference | Translate

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Link to Us · Report Ad · Contact Us

Get your FREE Subscription to Dictionary.com Word of the Day