[f. BRIEF a. + -NESS.]

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  † 1.  The quality or state of being brief; shortness (of time); hence, quickness, celerity. ? Obs.

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a. 1400.  Cov. Myst., 79. We passe ovyr that, breffnes of tyme consyderynge.

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1539.  Tonstall, Serm. Palm Sund. (1823), 75. For brefenes of tyme I shal omytte to reherse them.

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1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. i. 20. Briefenesse, and Fortune worke. Ibid. (1608), Per., V. ii. 15. In feather’d briefness sails are filled.

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  2.  Shortness in speech or writing; brevity; conciseness.

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1530.  Palsgr., 58. The brefnesse that the frenche tong useth in soundyng of theyr wordes.

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1548.  Udall, Erasm. Par. Luke, Pref. 8. For loue of briefnesse.

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1569.  Golding, Heminge’s Post., 3. For breefnesse sake I omit.

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1618.  Bolton, Florus, 46. To Rdr. A most exact, and studied method of briefnesse.

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1811.  Edin. Rev., XVIII. 287. A style … characterised by a studied briefness and simplicity of diction.

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