Briefest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Having the least amount of time or length compared to others in duration or size
2. Marked by the shortest measurable span or minimal extent among similar instances
3. Exhibiting the smallest degree of length, time, or detail relative to all others

Etymology: "Briefest" is the superlative of "brief," which came into English in the 14th century from Old French "bref," itself from Latin "brevis," meaning short. The Latin root also gave English "abbreviate" and "brevity," so the same idea of shortness runs through all of them. The base word's sense has shifted over time. Medieval English "brief" often meant a short written document, such as a letter or summary, and that sense survives in legal "briefs" and in the "brief" a lawyer or military officer receives. The adjective sense of short in duration or length developed from that core idea. The superlative follows the regular English pattern of adding "-est" to a one-syllable adjective, so "briefest" needs no special explanation beyond the root itself.

Synonyms: shortest, quickest, fastest, concise, terse

Antonyms: longest, lengthiest, extended, prolonged, verbose