n. 1. An epitome; a short or concise writing; a statement in few words.
Bear this sealed brief.
With winged haste, to the lord mareschal. Shak.
And she told me
In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak.
2Sense 2. (Law.) (a.) An abridgment of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel on a trial at law.
It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief. Sir J. Stephens.
☞ In England, this is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs. This word is applied to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.
(b.) A writ summoning a man to answer to any action, or any precept of the king in writing, issuing from any court, whereby he commands a thing to be done. (c.) (Scots Law.) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence. (d.) A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose. [Eng.]
Bouvier. Burrill. Johnson. New Am. Cyc.
Apostolical brief, a letter relating to public affairs dispatched by the pope to a prince or other magistrate, or to a religious community. — Brief of title, an abridgment of all the deeds and other papers constituting the chain of title to any real estate. Bouvier.
☞ A brief is distinguished from a bull in being more concise, written on paper sealed with red wax, and impressed with the seal of the fisherman, or Peter, in a boat. A bull is more ample, written on parchment, and sealed with lead or green wax.
3Sense 3. (Mus.) A note or character of time. See BREVE.