Obs. [f. as prec. (or aphetic form of ABBREVIATE).]
1. trans. To abbreviate, shorten.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 2366. By myschefe to brevyate and shorten his dayes.
1570. Levins, Manip., 40. Breuiate, abbreuiare.
1637. Heywood, Dialog., 885. Wee’l breviat your long motions Within a few short termes.
2. To abridge; spec. to abstract for counsel’s instruction, to brief.
1663. Manley, Sollicitor, 102. To breviate his Clyents cause fit to instruct counsel.
1679. Hobbes, Dial. Com. Laws (1840), 57. The office of this Chancellor was … to breviate the matter of the petitions, for the easing of the Emperor.
Hence Breviated ppl. a., Breviating vbl. sb.
c. 1590. Marlowe, Faust., III. 10. The breviated names of holy saints.
1633. Ford, Love’s Sacr., II. ii. (1839), 82. For the breviating the prolixity of some superfluous transmigration.
