brevis: Difference between revisions

|lshtext=<b>brĕvis</b>: e, adj. (abl. breve, Varr. R. R. 2, 3, 2;<br /><b>I</b> comp. abl. breviore, Ov. Am. 2, 17, 22) [cf. [[βραχύς]], Fest. p. 26], [[short]], [[little]], of [[small]] [[extent]], in [[space]] and [[time]] (opp. [[longus]]; in [[space]], in [[good]] [[class]]. [[prose]], diff. from [[parvus]], [[which]] designates [[that]] [[which]] fills a [[small]] [[space]] in [[length]], [[breadth]], and [[thickness]]; [[while]] [[brevis]] is used [[only]] of [[length]] in its [[different]] directions of [[breadth]], [[height]], or [[depth]]; and [[even]] of a [[circle]], as [[merely]] a [[line]], and [[without]] [[reference]] to the [[space]] enclosed,<br /> v. [[infra]]. In poets and postAug. [[prose]] [[brevis]] [[sometimes]] = [[parvus]]).<br /><b>I</b> Lit., in [[space]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> In [[distance]], [[extent]], [[short]], [[little]], [[small]], [[narrow]] (opp. [[latus]]), Cic. Ac. 2, 29, 92: brevior via, Nep. Eum. 8, 5; Tib. 1, 10, 4: via [[brevis]], Verg. E. 9, 23; Ov. M. 5, 253; Juv. 14, 223: [[cursus]] brevissimus, Verg. A. 3, 507: brevius [[iter]], Ov. P. 1, 4, 32: cursu brevissimus [[Almo]], id. M. 14, 329: [[quid]] mihi, [[quod]] lato non separor aequore, prodest? Num [[minus]] haec nobis tam [[brevis]] obstat [[aqua]]? so [[narrow]] a [[stream]], id. H. 18, 174; cf. also [[brevis]] [[unda]], opp. latum [[mare]], id. ib. 19, 141 and 142: non Asiam brevioris aquae disterminat [[usquam]] [[fluctus]] ab Europā, Luc. 9, 957 (strictioris, Schol.); cf. id. 9, 317: brevissima [[terra]], Plin. Ep. 10, 69, 2: in Euboico [[scopulus]] [[brevis]] emicat altō Gurgite, a [[small]], [[narrow]] [[rock]], Ov. M. 9, 226: brevibus Gyaris, Juv. 1, 73: scis In breve te cogi (sc. libellum), [[that]] [[you]] are [[closely]] rolled [[together]], Hor. Ep. 1, 20, 8: quo brevius valent, the nearer, the [[more]] [[powerful]] are [[they]] in [[conflict]], Tac. A. 6, 35.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trop. of the [[journey]] of [[life]]: [[quid]] est, [[quod]] in hoc tam exiguo vitae curriculo et tam brevi tantis nos in laboribus exerceamus? Cic. Arch. 11, 28; cf.: vitae [[brevis]] [[cursus]], gloriae [[sempiternus]], id. Sest. 21, 47: tum brevior dirae mortis aperta via est, Tib. 1, 10, 4.—And [[poet]]. of the [[thread]] of [[life]]: fila vitae breviora, Ov. Tr. 5, 10, 46. —<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> In [[height]], [[short]], [[small]], [[low]] (opp. [[altus]] and [[sometimes]] [[longus]]); of the [[human]] [[figure]]: sed sedebat judex L. Aurifex, brevior [[ipse]] [[quam]] [[testis]], Cic. de Or. 2, 60, 245: ut [[statura]] breves in digitos eriguntur, Quint. 2, 3, 8: [[forma]], Ov. M. 5, 457: ([[puella]]) longa brevisque, id. Am. 2, 4, 36: [[brevis]] corpore, Suet. Galb. 3; id. Vit. Hor.—Of a [[maiden]] changed to a [[boy]]: et incomptis brevior [[mensura]] capillis, Ov. M. 9, 789.— Of [[other]] things: ut pleraque Alpium ab Italiā [[sicut]] breviora, ita arrectiora sunt, [[lower]], Liv. 21, 35, 11: brevior [[ilex]], Sen. Herc. Oet. 1641: mus, [[little]], Ov. F. 2, 574. —<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> In [[depth]], [[small]], [[little]], [[shallow]] (opp. [[profundus]]): [[puteus]], Juv. 3, 226: vada, Verg. A. 5, 221; Sen. Agam. 570.—Hence, subst.: brĕvia, ium, n., as in Gr. τὰ βραχέα, [[shallow]] places, [[shallows]], [[shoals]]: [[tris]] Eurus ab [[alto]] In brevia et syrtis urget, Verg. A. 1, 111 (brevia vadosa dicit, per quae vadi pedibus potest, Serv.); Luc. 9, 338: [[neque]] discerni poterant incerta ab solidis, brevia a profundis, Tac. A. 1, 70: brevia litorum, id. ib. 6, 33 fin.—Perh. also in sing.: breve, Tac. A. 14, 29 Draeg. ad loc. (Ritter, brevia; al. breve [[litus]]).—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trop.: brevia, in quibus volutatur, incerta, ancipitia, difficulties, Sen. Ep. 22, 7.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>D</b> Of the [[line]] of a [[circle]]: ubi [[circulus]] (i.e. [[arcticus]]) axem Ultimus extremum spatioque brevissimus ambit, makes the shortest [[path]], Ov. M. 2, 517; cf. of [[similar]] orbits, of stars: absides breviores, Plin. 2. 15, 13, § 63.—Of the [[circular]] [[course]] of a [[horse]] on the [[track]]: discit [[gyro]] breviore flecti, Sen. Hippol. 314. —<br /><b>II</b> Transf., of [[time]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>A</b> Lit. (the usu. signif. of the [[word]]), [[short]], [[brief]], [[small]], [[little]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In gen.: [[quanto]], nox, fuisti longior hac proxumā, Tanto brevior [[dies]] ut fiat faciam, Plaut. Am. 1, 3, 51: breve [[spatium]]'st perferundi quae minitas mihi, id. Capt. 3, 5, 85: [[brevis]] [[hora]], Lucr. 4, 179; so Ov. M. 4, 696: Pa. Brevin' an [[longinquo]] sermone? Mi. Tribus verbis, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 30: [[occasio]], Ter. Eun. 3, 5, 57; Phaedr. 5, 8, 5: [[brevis]] hic est [[fructus]] homulleis, [[short]] is this [[enjoyment]] for [[little]] men, Lucr. 3, 927; cf.: MORS. PERFECIT. TVA. VT. TIBE. ESSENT. OMNIA. BREVIA. HONOS. FAMA. VIRTVSQVE. GLORIA. ATQVE. INGENIVM., Inscr. Orell. 558: omnia brevia tolerabilia esse debent, Cic. Lael. 27, 104; id. Fin. 1, 12, 40; 2, 29, 94; id. Tusc. 1, 39, 94; Sen. Ira, 3, 43, 5: [[quoniam]] [[vita]] [[brevis]] est, memoriam nostri [[quam]] [[maxime]] longam efficere, Sall. C. 1, 3; so, vitae [[summa]] [[brevis]] spem nos vetat incohare longam, Hor. C. 1, 4, 15; cf. id. ib. 1, 11, 6: aut omnia breviora [[aliquanto]] fuere, aut [[Saguntum]] [[principio]] anni captum, [[occupied]] a shorter [[time]], Liv. 21, 15, 5: brevissimum [[tempus]], id. 5, 6, 7: [[detrimentum]], Quint. 11, 1, 10: [[arbitrium]] mortis, Tac. A. 15, 60: breves populi Romani amores, id. ib. 2, 41: [[tempus]], Suet. Ner. 20 al.: nobis [[quom]] [[semel]] occidit [[brevis]] lux, nox est perpetua una dormienda, Cat. 5, 5: [[fructus]], Lucr. 3, 914: [[aevum]], Hor. C. 2, 16, 17; id. S. 2, 6, 97; id. Ep. 2, 1, 144; Plin. [[Pan]]. 78, 2: anni, Hor. C. 4, 13, 22: ver, Ov. M. 1, 118; 10, 85: flores rosae, [[quickly]] [[withering]], [[short]]-lived, Hor. C. 2, 3, 13: [[lilium]], id. ib. 1, 36, 16: [[cena]], [[frugal]], id. Ep. 1, 14, 35: [[mensa]], id. A. P. 198: [[dominus]], [[living]] [[but]] a [[short]] [[time]], id. C. 2, 14, 24: [[stultitia]], id. ib. 4, 12, 27: ira [[furor]] [[brevis]] est, id. Ep. 1, 2, 62: [[actio]] [[brevis]] [[atque]] concisa, Quint. 6, 4, 2: [[somnus]], Sen. [[Troad]]. 441: nec gratius [[quicquam]] [[decore]] nec brevius, [[nothing]] is [[more]] [[acceptable]], [[but]] [[nothing]] [[more]] [[perishable]], fading, [[than]] [[beauty]], Suet. Dom. 18: [[domus]], Sen. Hippol. 762: [[fortuna]], Sil. 4, 734.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Esp.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> Comp. brevius, [[with]] subj. [[clause]], shorter, i.e. easier, [[more]] [[convenient]]: brevius [[visum]] urbana crimina incipi, quorum obvii testes erant, Tac. A. 13, 43: [[modo]] ne existimes brevius esse ab urbe mitti, Trag. ap. Plin. Ep. 10, 40 (49), 3.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> In brevi spatio, brevi spatio, in brevi tempore, brevi tempore, and absol. brevi or in brevi, in a [[short]] [[time]], [[shortly]] ([[before]] or [[after]]) (brevi tempore and brevi are [[class]].; the [[latter]], as in Gr. ἐν βραχεῖ>, to be considered as [[neuter]], [[without]] supplying tempore): inque brevi spatio mutantur saecla animantum, Lucr. 2, 77; so Ter. Heaut. 5, 2, 2; Suet. Claud. 12; id. Ner. 30; cf.: in [[multo]] breviore temporis spatio, id. Aug. 22: [[multa]] brevi spatio simulacra geruntur, Lucr. 4, 160; Sall. J. 87, 3: spatio brevi, Hor. C. 1, 11, 6: res publica per vos brevi tempore jus suum recuperabit, Cic. Fam. 12, 2, 3; 5, 21, 2; id. Tusc. 2, 2, 5; Caes. B. G. 1, 40, 11; Nep. Milt. 2, 1; id. Them. 1, 4; Suet. Caes. 3: sic [[ille]] [[affectus]], brevi [[postea]] est [[mortuus]], [[soon]] [[after]], Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 54, § 142 (Zumpt; acc. to MSS. perbrevi).—So brevi [[post]] = [[paulo]] [[post]]: brevi [[post]] [[Marcellus]] Romam venit, Liv. 33, 37, 9; 24, 3, 14: brevi [[deinde]], id. 24, 4, 9: ([[Britanni]]) [[tantum]] usu cotidiano et exercitatione efficiunt, uti in declivi ac praecipiti [[loco]] incitatos equos sustinere et brevi (in a [[short]] [[time]], i.e. [[with]] [[great]] [[rapidity]]) moderari ac flectere consuerint, Caes. B. G. 4, 33 fin. Herz. and Held.: [[fama]] tanti facinoris per omnem Africam brevi divolgatur, Sall. J. 13, 1; Nep. Them. 4, 4: mirantur tam brevi rem Romanam crevisse, Liv. 1, 9, 9: brevi omnia subegit, Suet. Caes. 34; so id. Aug. 17; 65; id. Vesp. 5; id. Gram. 3; Gell. 1, 15, 18: scire in brevi, Afran. ap. [[Charis]]. p. 186 P.; Flor. 1, 1, 15.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>c</b> Brevi, a [[short]] [[time]], a [[little]] [[while]]: cunctatusque brevi, contortam viribus hastam in Persea misit, Ov. M. 5, 32; cf.: [[illa]] brevi spatio silet, id. ib. 7, 307; so, * breve, Cat. 61, 187.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>d</b> Ad breve, for a [[short]] [[time]], Suet. Tib. 68; cf.: ad breve quoddam [[tempus]], Cic. Cat. 1, 13, 31.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>B</b> Transf. to things done or [[taking]] [[place]] in a [[short]] [[time]]; so [[most]] freq.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of [[discourse]], [[short]], [[brief]], [[concise]] ([[most]] freq. in Cic. and Quint.): [[narratio]], Cic. Inv. 1, 20, 28; id. de Or. 3, 50, 196: [[laudatio]]; [[comprehensio]] et [[ambitus]] [[ille]] verborum erat [[apud]] illum [[contractus]] et [[brevis]], id. Brut. 44, 162; cf. id. de Or. 2, 80, 326: [[nunc]] [[venio]] ad [[illa]] tua brevia: et [[primum]] illud, quo [[nihil]] potest esse brevius: [[bonum]] omne laudabile, etc., id. Fin. 4, 18, 48: [[quam]] falsa re! [[quam]] brevia responsu! id. Clu. 59, 164: [[urbanitas]] est [[virtus]] quaedam in breve [[dictum]] coacta, Dom. [[Mars]]. ap. Quint. 6, 3, 104: [[Homerus]] brevem eloquentiam Menelao dedit, Quint. 12, 10, 64 ([[brevis]] = οὐ [[πολύμυθος]], Hom. Il. 3, 214): breviores commentarii, Quint. 3, 8, 58: [[annotatio]], id. 10, 7, 31: brevia [[illa]] [[atque]] concisa, id. 10, 7, 10; so, sententiae, id. 10, 1, 60: causae, id. 6, 1, 8: docendi compendia, id. 1, 1, 24: comprehensiones, id. 12, 2, 19: [[quod]] ut brevissimo pateat [[exemplo]], id. 3, 6, 10: [[commendatio]], requiring [[few]] words, i.e. [[moderate]], Plin. 11, 42, 97, § 240.— Meton. of a [[speaker]] or [[orator]], [[brief]]: multos [[imitatio]] brevitatis decipit, ut cum se breves putent esse, longissimi sint, Cic. Inv. 1, 20, 38: brevior in scribendo, id. Att. 5, 6, 2: [[brevis]] esse [[laboro]], Obscurus fio, Hor. A. P. 25: in eloquendo [[brevis]], Quint. 10, 1, 63: [[densus]] et [[brevis]] et [[semper]] [[instans]] sibi [[Thucydides]], id. 10, 1, 73.—Hence, brĕvī, adv., [[briefly]], in [[few]] words (freq. and [[class]].): brevi pro [[breviter]] M. [[Tullius]] de Orat. ad Quintum fratrem (1, 8, 34): ac ne plura [[quidem]] quae sunt innumerabilia consecter, comprehendam brevi, [[Charis]]. p. 176 P.: id percurram brevi, Cic. Caecin. 32, 94: aliquid explicare, id. Planc. 40, 95 Wund.: circumscribere et definire, id. Sest. 45, 97; so id. ib. 5, 12 Orell. N. cr.; id. Fin. 1, 17, 55: complecti, id. de Or. 1, 42, 190: exponere, id. ib. 1, 46, 203: reprehendere, id. Inv. 1, 9, 12: reddere, id. Leg. 2, 14, 34: respondere, id. Fam. 3, 8, 1: perscribere, id. ib. 4, 5, 1; so Auct. Her. 4, 26, 35; 35, 47 al.; cf.: in brevi, Quint. 9, 4, 32.—So [[once]] in epistolary [[style]]: breve facere, to be [[short]] or [[brief]]: [[quid]] scribam? breve faciam, Cic. Att. 11, 7, 6; cf.: [[longum]] est ea dicere, sed hoc breve dicam, id. Sest. 5, 12.—Once, in breve cogere (diff. from I. A.), to [[comprise]] in [[few]] words, [[bring]] [[into]] a [[small]] [[compass]]: in breve coactae causae, Liv. 39, 47, 5; cf.: in breve [[coactio]] causae, Gai. Inst. 4, 15.— In [[late]] Lat. subst.: brĕvis, is, m. (sc. [[liber]]—acc. to [[another]] [[reading]], brĕve, is, n.), a [[short]] [[catalogue]], [[summary]], = breviarium: [[brevis]] nominum, Vop. Aur. 36; so id. Bonos. 15; Lampr. Alex. Sev. 21; Hier. Ep. 5, n. 2 al.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of a [[short]] [[syllable]]; [[rarely]] as adj.: Syllaba longa brevi subjecta vocatur [[iambus]], Hor. A. P. 251: a [[brevis]], gre [[brevis]], faciet [[tamen]] longam priorem, Quint. 9, 4, 86 et saep.—More freq. subst.: brĕvis, is, f. (sc. [[syllaba]]): [[dactylus]], qui est e longā et duabus brevibus, Cic. Or. 64, 217 sq.: in [[fine]] pro longā accipi brevem, Quint. 9, 4, 93; 9, 4, 86: plurimum habent celeritatis breves, id. 9, 4, 91.— Hence also [[once]] of a [[syllable]] [[long]] by [[position]], [[but]] [[pronounced]] [[short]]: [[indoctus]] dicimus brevi primā litterā, [[insanus]] productā: [[inhumanus]] brevi, [[infelix]] longā, Cic. Or. 48, 159 Meyer N. cr.; cf. Gell. 2, 17 sqq., and Schütz Lex. Cic. s. v. [[brevis]].—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>C</b> For [[parvus]], [[exiguus]], [[little]], [[small]]: exigua [[pars]] brevisque, Lucr. 5, 591: [[Canidia]] brevibus implicata viperis, Hor. Epod. 5, 15: [[Alecto]] brevibus torquata colubris, Ov. H. 2, 119: brevi latere ac pede longo est, Hor. S. 1, 2, 93; cf. [[just]] [[before]]: breve [[quod]] [[caput]], ardua [[cervix]], v. 89, and [[brevis]] [[alvus]], Verg. G. 3, 80 (on the [[other]] [[hand]], Nemes. 244: parvae alvi): mus, Ov. F. 2, 574: [[forma]] (sc. pueri in stellionem mutati), id. M. 5, 457.— So, lapathi [[herba]], Hor. S. 2, 4, 29 ([[brevis]] = parva, non excrescens in [[altum]], Schol. Cruqu.): folia breviora, id. Ep. 1, 19, 26 ([[minor]] [[corona]], Schol. Cruqu.): [[census]], id. C. 2, 15, 13: [[pondus]], id. S. 2, 2, 37: [[impensa]], Ov. H. 7, 188 Ruhnk.: [[sigillum]], id. M. 6, 86: insulae, Pall. 1, 28, 1; cf. Juv. 1, 73: [[vasculum]], Pall. Apr. 8, 4: offulae, id. 1, 29, 4: pantheris in [[candido]] breves macularum oculi, Plin. 8, 17, 23, § 62.—With nom. abstr.: breve in exiguo marmore [[nomen]] ero, Prop. 2, 1, 72; Sen. Oedip. 935.—So, [[pondus]], Hor. S. 2, 2, 37 al.—Hence, brĕ-vĭter, adv., [[shortly]], [[briefly]], etc.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>1</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of [[space]] (acc. to I.) ([[rare]]): seu libeat, [[curvo]] brevius convertere [[gyro]], shorter, i. e. in a smaller [[circle]], Tib. 4, 1, 94: parvo brevius [[quam]] [[totus]], a [[little]] [[less]] [[than]] the [[whole]], Plin. 2, 67, 67, § 168: Sarmatae, omisso arcu, quo brevius valent, contis gladiisque ruerent, Tac. A. 6, 35.—Far [[more]] freq. in [[prose]] and [[poetry]],<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>2</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (Acc. to II. A. b. and c.) Of [[time]], in a [[short]] [[time]].<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>a</b> In gen.: iratum [[breviter]] vites, inimicum diu, Publ. Syr. v. 249 Rib.: [[sapiens]], cum [[breviter]] et [[strictim]] colore [[atque]] vultu [[motus]] est, Gell. 19, 1, 20.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>b</b> Esp.<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(a)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In [[expression]], [[briefly]], in [[brief]], in [[few]] words, [[concisely]], [[summarily]]: sed [[breviter]] paucis [[praestat]] comprendere [[multa]], Lucr. 6, 1082: [[multa]] [[breviter]] et [[commode]] dicta (sc. ἀποφθέγματα; cf. Cic. Off. 1, 29, 104) memoriae mandabam, Cic. Lael. 1, 1: rem totam [[breviter]] cognoscite, id. Verr. 2, 2, 69, § 169; 2, 3, 27, § 67; so id. de Or. 2, 83, 340: [[summatim]] breviterque describere, id. Or. 15, 50: [[breviter]] tangere, id. Off. 3, 2, 8 Beier N. cr.: [[breviter]] et [[modice]] disserere, Sall. J. 111, 1: adicere aliquid, Quint. 9, 3, 100; cf. also Verg. A. 2, 11; 4, 632; 6, 321; Ov. M. 2, 783: omnia soli Forsan Pacuvio [[breviter]] dabit (i.e. paucis testamenti verbis, quibus [[heres]] ex asse scribetur), Juv. 12, 125 Web. (cf. id. 1, 68: [[beatum]] exiguis tabulis).—Comp., Cic. Fin. 4, 10, 26; Quint. 8, prooem. § 1; 8, 6, 61; 9, 2, 16; 10, 1, 49; 11, 1, 5 al.—Sup., Cic. N. D. 2, 1, 3; id. Div. 1, 32, 70; Quint. 1, 10, 1; 4, 2, 113 al.—<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<b>(b)</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Of syllables: quibus in verbis eae primae litterae sunt quae in sapiente [[atque]] felice, producte dicitur, in ceteris omnibus [[breviter]], Cic. Or. 48, 159.