Brev"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Brevities (#). [L. brevitas, fr. brevis short: cf. F. brievit'e. 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.
© Webster 1913.