brevity

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The quality of expressing something in few words; conciseness.

   For the sake of brevity, I'll summarize the report in three points.

2. 2
   noun

   The quality of lasting only a short time; shortness.

   The brevity of the meeting surprised everyone who had expected a long debate.

First attested in English in 1509; either: * Borrowed directly from Latin brevitās; or * from Anglo-Norman brevité, from Old French brieveté, from Latin brevitātem, accusative of brevitās, from brevis (“short”). By surface analysis, brief + -ity.

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