"bref" meaning in Middle English

See bref in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /breːf/, /ˈbreːv(ə)/ Forms: breve [plural], breve [singular, weak], breef [alternative], breve [alternative], brefe [alternative], breefe [alternative]
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder. Proto-Italic *breɣʷis Latin brevisder. Old French briefbor. Old French brievebor. Middle English bref Borrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery. Etymology templates: {{ety|enm|:bor|fro:brief|fro:brieve|tree=+}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder. Proto-Italic *breɣʷis Latin brevisder. Old French briefbor. Old French brievebor. Middle English bref [Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "id" : "short", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "short", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*mreǵʰ-", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "id" : "Caland system", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-us", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*mréǵʰus", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*breɣʷis", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "brevis", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "brief", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "fro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "brieve", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "fro" } ], "keyword" : "bor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "bref", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" }" data-lang="enm" data-title="bref">, {{bor|enm|fro|brief}} Old French brief, {{der|enm|la|brevis}} Latin brevis, {{der|enm|itc-pro|*breɣʷis}} Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, {{der|enm|ine-pro|*mréǵʰus}} Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus, {{doublet|enm|mery}} Doublet of mery Head templates: {{head|enm|adjective|plural and weak singular|breve||{{{2}}}||{{{comp2}}}||{{{3}}}||{{{sup2}}}|f3l=|f5l=|head=}} bref (plural and weak singular breve), {{enm-adj|breve}} bref (plural and weak singular breve)
  1. concise (having a short word-count)
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-adj-KqamGUL5
  2. brief (short, ephemeral or quick)
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-adj-d6c--PJ8
  3. (rare) diminutive, little Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-adj-gg2y-Gi1
  4. (rare) stupid Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-adj-wtIUpITp
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: brevely

Noun

IPA: /breːf/, /ˈbreːv(ə)/ Forms: brefes [plural], breef [alternative], breve [alternative], brefe [alternative], breefe [alternative]
Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder. Proto-Italic *breɣʷis Latin brevisder. Old French briefbor. Old French brievebor. Middle English bref Borrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery. Etymology templates: {{ety|enm|:bor|fro:brief|fro:brieve|tree=+}} Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-us Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder. Proto-Italic *breɣʷis Latin brevisder. Old French briefbor. Old French brievebor. Middle English bref [Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "id" : "short", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "short", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*mreǵʰ-", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "id" : "Caland system", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-us", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*mréǵʰus", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*breɣʷis", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "brevis", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "brief", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "fro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Old French", "term" : "brieve", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "fro" } ], "keyword" : "bor" } ], "lang_name" : "Middle English", "term" : "bref", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "enm" }" data-lang="enm" data-title="bref">, {{bor|enm|fro|brief}} Old French brief, {{der|enm|la|brevis}} Latin brevis, {{der|enm|itc-pro|*breɣʷis}} Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, {{der|enm|ine-pro|*mréǵʰus}} Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus, {{doublet|enm|mery}} Doublet of mery Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=}} bref, {{enm-noun|brefes}} bref (plural brefes)
  1. A message, especially one that gives approval or authorises.
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-noun-~ggOaLMg Categories (other): Communication Disambiguation of Communication: 0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0
  2. brief (writ, summons)
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-noun-zurErrZ1
  3. A written text or part of one acting as a record.
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-noun-Blcj7Emp
  4. (rare, music) breve (double whole note) Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-bref-enm-noun-fOo9VUZl Categories (other): Music, Pages with 7 entries, Pages with entries, Middle English entries referencing missing etymons, Middle English entries with etymology trees, Middle English entries with etymon, Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymology trees, Pages with etymon, Law Disambiguation of Pages with 7 entries: 3 25 5 27 2 3 1 0 8 3 2 20 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 2 28 5 30 1 2 1 0 7 2 1 22 Disambiguation of Middle English entries referencing missing etymons: 10 12 4 1 13 16 4 40 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymology trees: 9 12 5 0 13 16 4 39 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with etymon: 10 12 2 0 14 17 4 41 Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 8 11 5 1 14 13 4 45 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 7 8 4 0 18 9 6 49 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 7 9 11 0 16 10 6 42 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 7 8 4 0 18 9 6 49 Disambiguation of Law: 1 23 5 0 5 24 9 32 Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "brevely"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Fingallian",
      "lang_code": "gmw-fin",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brief"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:brief",
        "4": "fro:brieve",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mreǵʰ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"Caland system\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-us\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mréǵʰus\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*breɣʷis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"brevis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brief\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brieve\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"bref\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"bref\">",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "brief"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French brief",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "brevis"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin brevis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "itc-pro",
        "3": "*breɣʷis"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Italic *breɣʷis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*mréǵʰus"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "mery"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of mery",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\nBorrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breef",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "10": "{{{3}}}",
        "11": "",
        "12": "{{{sup2}}}",
        "2": "adjective",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "breve",
        "5": "",
        "6": "{{{2}}}",
        "7": "",
        "8": "{{{comp2}}}",
        "9": "",
        "f3l": "",
        "f5l": "",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural and weak singular breve)",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "breve"
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural and weak singular breve)",
      "name": "enm-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "concise (having a short word-count)"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-adj-KqamGUL5",
      "links": [
        [
          "concise",
          "concise"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "brief (short, ephemeral or quick)"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-adj-d6c--PJ8",
      "links": [
        [
          "brief",
          "brief"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "diminutive, little"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-adj-gg2y-Gi1",
      "links": [
        [
          "diminutive",
          "diminutive"
        ],
        [
          "little",
          "little"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) diminutive, little"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "stupid"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-adj-wtIUpITp",
      "links": [
        [
          "stupid",
          "stupid"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) stupid"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/breːf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbreːv(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "bref"
}

{
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "breve"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brieve"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "breef"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "briefe"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:brief",
        "4": "fro:brieve",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mreǵʰ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"Caland system\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-us\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mréǵʰus\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*breɣʷis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"brevis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brief\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brieve\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"bref\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"bref\">",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "brief"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French brief",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "brevis"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin brevis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "itc-pro",
        "3": "*breɣʷis"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Italic *breɣʷis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*mréǵʰus"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "mery"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of mery",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\nBorrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "brefes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breef",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "bref",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "brefes"
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural brefes)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 0 0 0 100 0 0 0",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Communication",
          "orig": "enm:Communication",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A message, especially one that gives approval or authorises."
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-noun-~ggOaLMg",
      "links": [
        [
          "message",
          "message"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "brief (writ, summons)"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-noun-zurErrZ1",
      "links": [
        [
          "brief",
          "brief"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A written text or part of one acting as a record."
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-noun-Blcj7Emp",
      "links": [
        [
          "text",
          "text"
        ],
        [
          "record",
          "record"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Music",
          "orig": "enm:Music",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 25 5 27 2 3 1 0 8 3 2 20",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 7 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 28 5 30 1 2 1 0 7 2 1 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 12 4 1 13 16 4 40",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 12 5 0 13 16 4 39",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "10 12 2 0 14 17 4 41",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "8 11 5 1 14 13 4 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 8 4 0 18 9 6 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 9 11 0 16 10 6 42",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 8 4 0 18 9 6 49",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 23 5 0 5 24 9 32",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Law",
          "orig": "enm:Law",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "breve (double whole note)"
      ],
      "id": "en-bref-enm-noun-fOo9VUZl",
      "links": [
        [
          "music",
          "music"
        ],
        [
          "breve",
          "breve"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, music) breve (double whole note)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle",
        "music"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/breːf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbreːv(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "bref"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English adjectives",
    "Middle English doublets",
    "Middle English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "Middle English entries with etymology trees",
    "Middle English entries with etymon",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Italic",
    "Middle English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *mreǵʰ-",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 7 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "enm:Communication",
    "enm:Law"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "brevely"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Fingallian",
      "lang_code": "gmw-fin",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brief"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:brief",
        "4": "fro:brieve",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mreǵʰ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"Caland system\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-us\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mréǵʰus\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*breɣʷis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"brevis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brief\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brieve\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"bref\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"bref\">",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "brief"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French brief",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "brevis"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin brevis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "itc-pro",
        "3": "*breɣʷis"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Italic *breɣʷis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*mréǵʰus"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "mery"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of mery",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\nBorrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "weak"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breef",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "10": "{{{3}}}",
        "11": "",
        "12": "{{{sup2}}}",
        "2": "adjective",
        "3": "plural and weak singular",
        "4": "breve",
        "5": "",
        "6": "{{{2}}}",
        "7": "",
        "8": "{{{comp2}}}",
        "9": "",
        "f3l": "",
        "f5l": "",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural and weak singular breve)",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "breve"
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural and weak singular breve)",
      "name": "enm-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "concise (having a short word-count)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "concise",
          "concise"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "brief (short, ephemeral or quick)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "brief",
          "brief"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "diminutive, little"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "diminutive",
          "diminutive"
        ],
        [
          "little",
          "little"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) diminutive, little"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "stupid"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "stupid",
          "stupid"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) stupid"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/breːf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbreːv(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "bref"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English adjectives",
    "Middle English doublets",
    "Middle English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "Middle English entries with etymology trees",
    "Middle English entries with etymon",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms borrowed from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Latin",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old French",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-Italic",
    "Middle English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *mreǵʰ-",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 7 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "enm:Communication",
    "enm:Law"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "breve"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brief"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "brieve"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "breef"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Scots",
      "lang_code": "sco",
      "word": "briefe"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "fro:brief",
        "4": "fro:brieve",
        "tree": "+"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"short\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mreǵʰ-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"id\" : \"Caland system\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-us\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*mréǵʰus\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*breɣʷis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"brevis\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brief\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old French\", \"term\" : \"brieve\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"fro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"bref\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" }\" data-lang=\"enm\" data-title=\"bref\">",
      "name": "ety"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "fro",
        "3": "brief"
      },
      "expansion": "Old French brief",
      "name": "bor"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "brevis"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin brevis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "itc-pro",
        "3": "*breɣʷis"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Italic *breɣʷis",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*mréǵʰus"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus",
      "name": "der"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "mery"
      },
      "expansion": "Doublet of mery",
      "name": "doublet"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *mreǵʰ-\nProto-Indo-European *-us\nProto-Indo-European *mréǵʰusder.\nProto-Italic *breɣʷis\nLatin brevisder.\nOld French briefbor.\nOld French brievebor.\nMiddle English bref\nBorrowed from Old French brief, and its feminine form brieve, from Latin brevis, from Proto-Italic *breɣʷis, from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus. Doublet of mery.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "brefes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breef",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breve",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "brefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "breefe",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "bref",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "brefes"
      },
      "expansion": "bref (plural brefes)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A message, especially one that gives approval or authorises."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "message",
          "message"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "brief (writ, summons)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "brief",
          "brief"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A written text or part of one acting as a record."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "text",
          "text"
        ],
        [
          "record",
          "record"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses",
        "enm:Music"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "breve (double whole note)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "music",
          "music"
        ],
        [
          "breve",
          "breve"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare, music) breve (double whole note)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "entertainment",
        "lifestyle",
        "music"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/breːf/"
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈbreːv(ə)/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "bref"
}

Download raw JSONL data for bref meaning in Middle English (10.3kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-07-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-07-06 using wiktextract (e62056b and e7887d5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.