Brē'vi-a-ry, n.

n. [Fr. bréviaire, Pr. breviari; Lat. breviarium, summary, abridgment, breviarius, abridged, from brevis, short. See BRIEF.] 1. An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary. A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those roots that are to be cut up or gathered. Holland. 2. A book containing the daily service of the Roman Catholic or Greek church. It is composed of matins, lauds, first, third, sixth, and ninth vespers, and the compline or post-communio.