Emily Dickinson Lexicon

short (-er, -est), adj. [OE 'to lack'.] (webplay: brief, extent).

1. Small in quantity; not lengthy in duration; having few people participating.
2. Smallest; tiniest; less in height, length, depth, breadth, or distance.
3. Simple; minor; not exaggerated; not grand in scope; [fig.] natural; primal; elemental.
4. Temporary; ephemeral; transitory; [fig.] temporal; mortal.
5. Quick; not taking much time.
6. Brief; quick in passing; not long in duration.
7. Not permanent; [fig.] insignificant; inconsequential; with lasting effect.
8. Abrupt; sudden; [fig.] angry; severe; rudely brief.
9. Less in term; not as long; fewer in minutes, hours, days, or years.
10. Instantaneous; concise; terse.
11. Too little; not long enough.
12. Phrase. “shorter than”: not as long ago as; lesser in time when compared to.
13. Phrase. “short way off”: not long ago.
14. Phrase. “short way off”: at a small distance away.