3. (Print.) A curved mark [] used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel.
4. (Zoöl.) The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail.
Bre*vet" (br*vt"; 277), n. [F. brevet, LL. brevetum, fr. L. brevis short. See Brief.] 1. A warrant from the government, granting a privilege, title, or dignity. [French usage].
2. (Mil.) A commission giving an officer higher rank than that for which he receives pay; an honorary promotion of an officer.
In the United States army, rank by brevet is conferred, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for "gallant actions or meritorious services." A brevet rank gives no right of command in the particular corps to which the officer brevetted belongs, and can be exercised only by special assignment of the President, or on court martial, and detachments composed of different corps, with pay of the brevet rank when on such duty.
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Bre*vet" (br*vt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brevetted (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Brevetting.] (Mil.) To confer rank upon by brevet.
Bre*vet", a. (Mil.) Taking or conferring rank by brevet; as, a brevet colonel; a brevet commission.
Bre*vet"cy (br*vt"s), n.; pl. Brevetcies (- sz). (Mil.) The rank or condition of a brevet officer.
Bre"vi*a*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Breviaries (&?;). [F. bréviarie, L. breviarium summary, abridgment, neut. noun fr. breviarius abridged, fr. brevis short. See Brief, and cf. Brevier.] 1. An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary.
A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those roots that are to be cut up or gathered.
Holland.
2. A book containing the daily public or canonical prayers of the Roman Catholic or of the Greek Church for the seven canonical hours, namely, matins and lauds, the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours, vespers, and compline; -- distinguished from the missal.
Bre"vi*ate (&?;), n. [L. breviatus, p. p. of breviare to shorten, brevis short.] 1. A short compend; a summary; a brief statement.
I omit in this breviate to rehearse.
Hakluyt.
The same little breviates of infidelity have . . . been published and dispersed with great activity.
Bp. Porteus.