Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BRIEF, a. [Fr. bref; It. Sp. and Port. breve; L. brevis, whence brevio, to shorten, abbreviate. Brevis, in Latin, is doubtless contracted from the Gr. βραχος, whence to abridge. The Greek word coincides in elements with break.]

Short; concise; it is used chiefly of language, discourses, writings and time; as, a brief space, a brief review of a book. Shakespeare applies it to wars, to nature, &c. A little brief authority, is authority very limited.