Obs. Forms: 3–4 breven, 4–6 breve, 5 briefe, 6 bryve, 6 Sc. breif, brew. [ME. breven, app. a. ON. bréfa to write (corresp. to OHG. briofan, OHG., MHG. briefen), ad. med.L. breviāre to draw up or send dispatches, f. breve a note, dispatch: see BRIEF. App. the Latin word was never adopted in OE., but early ME. breven may possibly have been directly from it, rather than from the ON.]
1. trans. (and absol.). To set down in writing; to indite, compose, write (a matter).
a. 1225. St. Marher., 16. In iannes ant in iembres bokes ibreuet.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2521. As hit is breued in þe best boke of romaunce.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 3736. Þus he breuyt in his boke of þe breme kynges.
1470. Harding, Chron., xxxi. iii. As chronycles doth briefe.
c. 1505. Dunbar, Poems (1884), 105. Allace! I can bot ballattis breif.
a. 1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, Prol. 319. Now pas thy wayis, thou barrant buik new breuit.
b. To enter in books of account; to ‘post,’ make up (accounts).
a. 1377. in Househ. Ord. (1790), 10. Leveryes of men servantes, intituled Calciatura besides all wages breved.
c. 1440. Bk. Curtasye, in Babees Book (1868), 553. The clerke of þe cochyn shalle alle þyng breue.
1484. Marg. Paston, Lett., 881, III. 314. The mane … woll not take upon hym to breve dayly.
c. To breve for: to render an account for.
1478. Liber Niger, in Pegge, Cur. Misc. (1782), 74. That the Marshall … send such one with his rod as he will answer for on the morrow and also that he will breve for.
2. To recount, relate, state, tell.
c. 1325. E. E. Allit. P., A. 754. Breue me bryȝt, quat-kyn of priys Berez þe perle.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1488. If hit be sothe þat ȝe breue, þe blame is myn awen.
a. 1400. Alexander (Stevenson), 78. Breve us thi name.
1447–8. Shillingford, Lett. (1871), 55. Y wolde have comyned wt ham to have breved the mater.
3. To note, point out.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1436. Þe best þat þer breued watz wyth þe blod houndez.
