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brevity

[brev-i-tee]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

shortness of time or duration; briefness.
the brevity of human life.
Antonyms:
the quality of expressing much in few words; terseness.
Ironically, it is long-winded Polonius in Shakespeare's Hamlet who famously says that brevity is the soul of wit.
Synonyms: , ,
Antonyms:

brevity

/ ˈ��ɛ��ɪ��ɪ /

noun

conciseness of expression; lack of verbosity
a short duration; brief time

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Word History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Anglo-French brevite, Old French brievete, from briev(e), feminine of brief brief + -ete -ity

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Word History and Origins

Origin of brevity¹

C16: from Latin ��𱹾�� shortness, from brevis _brief

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Synonym Study

Brevity, conciseness refer to the use of few words in speaking. Brevity emphasizes the short duration of speech: a response reduced to extreme brevity. Conciseness emphasizes compactness of expression: Her prose is clear in spite of great conciseness.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Life is short, and even if it’s well-lived, its brevity is both beautiful and cruel.

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The following has been edited slightly for style and brevity.

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Journalism organizations commonly edit interviews for brevity and clarity.

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Don’t let the brevity of this list fool you!

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Then there's the brevity of each script - average length of about five signs or symbols - with no long texts on walls, tablets or upright stone slabs.

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brevirostrate Brevity is the soul of wit

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