Part 1392

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An epitome.</def>

<blockquote>Each woman is a <b>brief</b> of womankind. <i>Overbury.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.</def>

<blockquote>It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a <b>brief</b>. <i>Sir J. Stephen.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; In England, the <i>brief</i> is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs.</note>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <def>A writ; a breve. See <er>Breve</er>, <tt>n.</tt>, 2.</def>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Scots Law)</fld> <def>A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.</def>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.</def> <mark>[Eng.]</mark>

<cs><col>Apostolical brief</col>, <cd>a letter of the pope written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," <it>i. e.</it>, "from the day of the Nativity," and sealed with the ring of the fisherman. It differs from a <i>bull<i>, in its parchment, written character, date, and seal. See <er>Bull</er>.</cd> -- <col>Brief of title</col>, <cd>an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds and other papers constituting the chain of title to any real estate.</cd> -- <col>In brief</col>, <cd>in a few words; in short; briefly.</cd> "Open the matter <i>in brief<i>." <i>Shak.</i></cs>

<h1>Brief</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Brief</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; <as>as, to <ex>brief</ex> pleadings</as>.</def>

<h1>Briefless</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Brief"less</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Having no brief; without clients; <as>as, a <ex>briefless</ex> barrister</as>.</def>

<h1>Briefly</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Brief"ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>Concisely; in few words.</def>

<h1>Briefman</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Brief"man</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>One who makes a brief.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A copier of a manuscript.</def>

<h1>Briefness</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Brief"ness</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being brief; brevity; conciseness in discourse or writing.</def>

<h1>Brier, Briar</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw><hw>Bri"er</hw>, <hw>Bri"ar</hw><hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>brere</ets>, <ets>brer</ets>, AS. <ets>br\'c7r</ets>, <ets>br\'91r</ets>; cf. Ir. <ets>briar</ets> prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. <ets>preas</ets> bush, brier, W. <ets>prys</ets>, <ets>prysg</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles; especially, species of <i>Rosa</i>, <i>Rubus</i>, and <i>Smilax</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.</def>

<blockquote>The thorns and <b>briers</b> of reproof. <i>Cowper.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Brier root</col>, <cd>the root of the southern <spn>Smilax laurifolia</spn> and <spn>S. Walleri</spn>; -- used for tobacco pipes.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Cat brier</col>, <col>Green brier</col></mcol>, <cd>several species of Smilax (<spn>S. rotundifolia</spn>, etc.)</cd> -- <col>Sweet brier</col> (<spn>Rosa rubiginosa</spn>). <cd>See <er>Sweetbrier</er>.</cd> -- <col>Yellow brier</col>, <cd>the <spn>Rosa Eglantina</spn>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Briered</h1> <Xpage=181>

<hw>Bri"ered</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Set with briers.</def>

<i>Chatterton.</i>