Middle English Dictionary Entry
brẹ̄flī adv.
Entry Info
| Forms | brẹ̄flī adv. Also breveli. |
| Etymology | From brẹ̄f , brẹ̄ve. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
In few words, briefly; concisely, in abridged form.
Associated quotations
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)1902 : My purpoos is breefly to expresse Theffecte only..Of the massage.
- a1425 Ben.Rule(1) (Lnsd 378)27/26 : Bot tabbesse, yef sho wille, sho may breuelike [speke] a sentence for to amende.
- (1449) Metham AC (Gar 141)155 : Breuely this proces for to trase.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)67b : Þese bookes of werre craft, þe whiche ben breueliche y-gedered oþer schortliche abreged out of auctors apreued.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)6/14 : The forsaide prohemye, conteynynge brefly þe cawse of this tretis.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)1/2 : I write to ȝou a tretice in englisch, breuely drawe out of þe book of quintis essencijs in latyn.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)400 : In this mater breffly to conclude.
2.
Quickly, without delay.
Associated quotations
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)152 : Forward in my purpose to procede And to Bochas prologe brevely for-to spede.
- c1460 Cursor (LdMisc 416)18199 : Tho [fiends] that so breuely were dounecast.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)39/24 : So, breffly to make an ende, they took there leve to go into hir owne contreyes.
- a1500(?c1440) Lydg.HGS (Lnsd 699)36 : To procede breffly & nat tarie.