Middle English Dictionary Entry
brẹ̄f n.
Entry Info
| Forms | brẹ̄f n. Also brief, brefe, breve, brewe. |
| Etymology | OF brief, bref & ML breve. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A written communication, a letter; (b) a letter of authority or credentials; an authorization.
Associated quotations
a
- ?a1400(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.2 (Petyt 511)p.155 : Þat was a fals brefe [F bref].
- a1450(a1338) Mannyng Chron.Pt.1 (Lamb 131)939 : Brutus dide write a bref, Vnto sire Pandras, kyng & chef; Þys ys þe lettre.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1956 : [Darius] Mas a brefe [Dub: breue]..& it in brathe sendis.
b
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)19606 : O prince o preistes, gatt he leue, And þar-on purchest he þar breue For to seke..If he moght find..Cristen man.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.325 : The Frere..cam with his lettres Baldly to þe bisshop & his brief hadde, In contrees þere he come in confessiouns to here.
- (1450) Doc.in Kingsford EHist.Lit.(CotR 2.23)362 : Also in takyng whete ..and other vitaill, the whiche is vnportable to the said Commons with oute breff provision of our soueraigne lorde and his trewe counseill, þey may no longer bere hit.
2.
(a) A written mandate or summons; (b) a writ.
Associated quotations
a
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.1905 : This worþi kyng..Hath his breues and his letters sent, For his lordis to holde a parlement.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)3213 : Over alle hys lond hys bref was sente To aselen [read: asemlen] a comuyn parlyment.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1181 : Þan takis þe bischop þe breue [from Alexander]..& redis it ouire.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)151/342 : I haue message..ffrom herode..if ye trow not me, ye rede this brefe.
b
- c1460 Oseney Reg.80/27 : Owre lorde Kyng impletid hym in his courte by breve 'precipe'.
- c1460 Oseney Reg.198/6 : Þe ffalse clayme ayenst þem In the Brefe.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)206/3 : The sewters..shold come fully to the strengthe of the courte, for the kyngis breef or writte, ther to be demed at that tyme.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)413/4 : By a breef of entryng that is I-called 'breve introitus'.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)507/2 : There was Imeved a plee by a breef of the kyngis that is I-called a 'Cessauit per biennium'.
3.
(a) A written record, a document; an inscription; (b) an entry in a document; (c) a statement preserved in writing.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)39/1 : Þis þing salle sho write with hir awne hande..Þe bref of hir professe sal sho noht haue.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)31.265 : The Brefis that on the schipe weren set Signefieth holy Scripture.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)42a : Of hem þat haue fulfilled her cours in wacchis and oþer laboures..were wretin in breue lettres or rollus.
- c1540(?a1400) Destr.Troy (Htrn 388)794 : Ho broght hym a bref all of brode letres..a clerke for to rede.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)60/5 : Ȝyf a woman trawayle of a chyld, [and] a prest or a clerk..rede þis brewe ouer here hewede.
b
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)371/143 : Examyn oure bokys..a bag full of brefes.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)374/225 : A roll..Of breffes..of synnes dampnabill.
c
- c1475 Lydg.Aesop (Hrl 2251:Sauerstein)p.18 : A pore man..may at nyght, be many sundry brefis [vr. preues], Merily slepe for any fere of thefis.
4.
Mus. A note equal in measured value to one half or one third of a 'long'; a breve.
Associated quotations
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)2073 : Whyche laarge, whyche long, whyche brefe, whyche semybrefe..All thys she [Dame Musica] taught.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)137/657 : Say, what was his song? hard ye not how he crakyd it? Thre brefes to a long.