Search Result for "breve": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (1)

1. a diacritical mark (U-shaped) placed over a vowel to indicate a short sound;


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Breve \Breve\ (br[=e]v), n. [It. & (in sense 2) LL. breve, fr. L. brevis short. See Brief.] 1. (Mus.) A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure (as thus: ? ), but is now made oval, with a line perpendicular to the staff on each of its sides; -- formerly much used for choir service. --Moore. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court. [1913 Webster] 3. (Print.) A curved mark [[breve]] used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel. [1913 Webster] 4. (Zool.) The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

breve n 1: a diacritical mark (U-shaped) placed over a vowel to indicate a short sound
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

BREVE, practice. A writ in which the cause of action is briefly stated, hence its name. Fleta, lib. 2, c. 13, Sec. 25; Co. Lit. 73 b. 2. Writs are distributed into several classes. Some are called brevia formata, others brevia de cursu, brevia judicialia, or brevia magistralia. There is a further distinction with respect to real actions into brevia nominata and innominata. The former, says Bacon, contain the time, place and demand very particularly; and therefore by such writ several lands by several titles cannot be demanded by the same writ. The latter contain only a general complaint, without expressing time, damages, &c., as in trespass quare clausum fregit, &o., and therefore several lands coming to the demandant by several titles may be demanded in such writ. F. N. B. 209; 8 Co. 87; Kielw. 105; Dy. 145; 2 Brownl. 274; Bac. Ab. Actions in General, C. See Innominate contracts.