brief

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*mreǵʰ-
2. Proto-Indo-European*mréǵʰus
3. Proto-Italic*breɣʷis
4. Latinbrevis
5. Old Frenchbrief
6. Old Frenchbrieve
7. Middle Englishbref
8. English todaybrief

From Middle English breef, breve, bref, from Old French brief, bref, from Latin brevis (“short”), from Proto-Indo-European *mréǵʰus (“short, brief”). Doublet of breve and merry.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. Of short duration; happening quickly.
• from 15th c. Concise; taking few words.
• from 17th c. Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.