2. Soon; quickly. [Obs.] Shak.

BRIEF
Brief, n. Etym: [See Brief, a., and cf. Breve.]

1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.
Bear this sealed brief, With winged hastle, to the lord marshal.
Shak.
And she told me In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak.

2. An epitome. Each woman is a brief of womankind. Overbury.

3. (Law)

Defn: An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument. It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief. Sir J. Stephen.

Note: In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in the United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs.

4. (Law)

Defn: A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2.

5. (Scots Law)