brevis
- adjective
- /ˈbrɛvɪs/
- Specialized
:
breve
- In Latin poetry, a brevis syllable is counted as short in the meter.
Examples
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Understanding the difference between brevis and longus is important in classical verse analysis.
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The teacher explained that the word contains a brevis vowel in its first syllable.
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A vowel can be brevis.
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In Latin poetry, a brevis syllable is often followed by a long one.
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In Latin poetry, a brevis syllable is counted as short in the meter.
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The teacher explained that the word contains a brevis vowel in its first syllable.
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A vowel can be brevis if it is pronounced quickly in a line of poetry.
Synonyms
8
6.8
Made for a brief time, not held long
Compounds
- Specialized
A small insect that lives in wood and damages houses and furniture in warm places
- Specialized
A short muscle in the inner thigh that pulls the leg toward the body
- Specialized
Small arteries that come from the artery near the spleen and bring blood to the outer curve of the stomach
Surface Forms
Etymology
Brevis comes from the Latin root brev-, which means 'short'. In classical poetry a brevis names a vowel or syllable that is 'short', so you can remember it like the English word brief.