Brevity, n.; pl. Brevities.
Etymology: [L. brevitas, fr. brevis short: cf. F. brièvité. See Brief.]
1. Shortness of duration; briefness of time; as, the brevity of human life.
2. Contraction into few words; conciseness. Brevity is the soul of wit. Shak. This argument is stated by St. John with his usual elegant brevity and simplicity. Bp. Porteus.
Syn. -- Shortness; conciseness; succinctness; terseness.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists brevity only as an antonym, under circumlocution.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given