Brief (�), a. [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L. brevis; akin to Gr. � short, and perh. to Skr. barh to tear. Cf. Breve.] 1. Short in duration.
How brief the life of man.
Shak.
2. Concise; terse; succinct.
The brief style is that which expresseth much in little.
B. Jonson.
3. Rife; common; prevalent.
In brief. See under Brief, n.
Syn. — Short; concise; succinct; summary; compendious; condensed; terse; curt; transitory; short-lived.