breve

[ breev, brev ]

/ briv, brɛv /

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noun

Phonetics, Orthography. a diacritic (˘) over a vowel to show that it is short, or to indicate a specific pronunciation, as ŭ in (kŭt) cut.

Law.

an initial writ.
a writ, as one issued by a court of law.

Music.

the longest modern note, equivalent to two semibreves or whole notes.
Also brevis. a note in medieval mensural notation equal to one-half or one-third of a longa.

Prosody. a mark (˘) over a syllable to show that it is not stressed.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of breve

1250–1300; Middle English <Medieval Latin, Latin breve, neuter of brevis short; see brief

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use breve in a sentence

And all this said of a youth of twentyheu nimium brevis vi decus et desiderium!
Spare Hours|John Brown
Another species (Crabro brevis) frequents similar situations, and has been known to provision its nest with small beetles.
The Young Collector's Handbook of Ants, Bees, Dragon-flies, Earwigs, Crickets, and Flies|W. Harcourt Bath
Isque longior potius esse debet; nam brevis extrahendi vim non habet.
Surgical Instruments in Greek and Roman Times|John Stewart Milne
The anterior fold is divided with the paracentesis knife just in front of the processus brevis of the malleus.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various

The knife is pushed upwards until its shaft is on a level with the processus brevis.
A System of Operative Surgery, Volume IV (of 4)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for breve

breve

/ (briːv) /

noun

an accent, (˘), placed over a vowel to indicate that it is of short duration or is pronounced in a specified way

music a note, now rarely used, equivalent in time value to two semibreves

RC Church a less common word for brief (def. 7)

Word Origin for breve

C13: from Medieval Latin breve, from Latin brevis short; see brief

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012