breve
noun
a diacritic (˘) over a vowel to show that it is short, or to indicate a specific pronunciation, as ŭ in (kŭt) cut.
breves
-
pluralof breve.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
These missae breves, or short Masses, as Protestant churches used them in Bach’s time, retained only the Kyrie and Gloria of the Roman Catholic Mass, stopping short of the Credo for obvious reasons.
From New York Times ● Oct. 20, 2015
Macrons, breves, umlauts etc have been removed from the body of the text since they were very obtrusive and made reading difficult.
From "De Bello Gallico" and Other Commentaries by Julius Caesar
The title-page of a book now before me runs as follows: "Kanuti Episcopi Vibergensis Quedam breves expositõs s legum et jurium cõcordantie et allegatiões circa leges iucie"; at the foot is "Ripis, M. Brand, MIƆIIII".
From Book Collecting: A Guide for Amateurs by J. Herbert (John Herbert) Slater
O want of veneration! fools they seemed, But, persevering, with long breves, at last No more they shall be gaping greedy fools.
From Gargantua and Pantagruel, Illustrated, Book 5 by Peter Anthony Motteux
Before him on the sheet was half a line of breves and semibreves, which Nancy remembered from her childhood as little men getting over stiles.
From The Devourers by Annie Vivanti Chartres
