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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Breve, Brewe, Breif, v. Also: breiue and Breif. [ME. breve(n, med. L. breviāre, f. breve Breve n.]

1. tr. To furnish with musical notes. 1450 Misc. Maitl. C. III. 201.
Ane collection with anthiphonis and responses … breuit and notit for the chantouris

2. To put, express, describe, etc., in writing. c1450-2 Howlat 536.
For it bled he his blud, as the bill brevit 1463 Reg. Aberbr. 139.
As I hawe brewit eftir the tenor of this summondis c1475 Wall. ix. 1944.
Maister Ihon Blayr … in Wallace buk brewyt it with the layff a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 281.
To be fallow … To the best that has bene brevit you beforne 1501 Doug. Pal. Hon. ii. 18.
Of quhome the bountie, … Vneith may be intill ane scripture brewit c1515 Asl. MS. I. 324/14.
The mast notable accidentis brevit thus in schort tymes 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 225.
Me thocht this bird did breue, in her maneir, Hir counsale to the Kyng 1573 Sat. P. xl. 313–14.
Taking exempill of this propheit plane, Quhome heir befoir we breuit in this bill 1596 Dalr. I. 275/9.
He … sett out lawis … quhilkes in the beginning of this historie we breiuet 1622-6 Bisset I. 152/26.
The lordis, quha convenis nocht at the houre appoyntted, … sall nocht be breved nor wreittin [in] amang the rest of the lordis sedentes

3. To write or compose (a letter, book, etc.). c1500-c1512 Dunb. xxix. 6.
Quhen I wald blythlie ballattis breif Ib. xlii. 42.
Gud Houp … bad be baldlie breve a bill 1524 Reg. Privy S. I. 495/2.
In forme of uthir sic lettrez before brevit 1530 Lynd. Test. Pap. 38.
In the courte bene present … That ballattis breuis lustellie and layis c1550 Rolland Ct. Venus Prol. 319.
Now pas thy wayis, thou barrant buik new breuit Ib. ii. 240.
Sum ballet or sang breuit of the new