Briefly

adv. [f. BRIEF a. + -LY².]

  1.  In a way or form that occupies short time; in few words, shortly, concisely, tersely.

c. 1300.  Cursor M., 120. I sal yow schew wit myn entent, Bre[fl]i [Fairf. shortly] of aiþere testament.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., III. (1495), 48. In the forsayd bokys we haue brought in breyfly somm propryttees of bodylesse substaunce.

1494.  Fabyan, II. xlv. 29. Guydo … reherceth moste breuely the passe tyme of the sayd kyngs.

1502.  Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.), II. ii. (1506), 87. Conteynynge y^e .x. commaundementes ryght bryefly, ryght clerely, right easely.

1559.  Mirr. Mag., Dk. Clarence, iii. I will declare as briefly as I may.

1681.  Baxter, Acc. Sherlocke, v. 193. The judgment … I cannot better and brieflier give you, than in the words of the Preface.

1855.  Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, xix. § 794. Such, briefly stated, are the two theories.

  b.  Often with ellipsis of ‘to speak’: In short.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (1847), Introd. 70. Briefely, all people of good behavour.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. iii. 47. Briefely: I doe meane to make loue to Fords wife.

1611.  Bible, Pref., 1. Briefly … we sooner compose our differences.

  † 2.  Within a short time (measured either backward or forward); soon. Obs.

c. 1340.  Cursor M., 18199 (Fairf.). Tho that so breuely were doune-cast.

c. 1475[?].  Sqr. lowe Degre, 873. The kyng him graunted ther to go Upon his jorney to and fro, And brefely to passe the sea.

1606.  Shaks., Ant. & Cl., IV. iv. 10. Ant. Go, put on thy defences. Eros. Briefely Sir. Ibid. (1607), Cor., I. vi. 16. ’Tis not a mile: briefely we heard their drummes. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. v. 106. Briefely dye their ioyes, that place them on the truth of Gyrles, and Boyes.

  † 3.  In an abridged form, in brief. Obs.

c. 1460–70.  Bk. Quintessence, 1. A treatise in Englisch brevely drawe out of þe book of quintis essenciis.

1551.  (title) The newe greate abredgement brefly conteynynge al thactes and statutes of this Realme.

  † 4.  With short (prosodic) quantity. Obs.

c. 1500.  Partenay, 6582. Als the frensh staffes silabled be More breueloker and shorter also Then is the english lines vnto see.