brĕvĭo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [brevis],
I to shorten , abbreviate , abridge , βραχύνω brevio, Gloss. Vet. (post-Aug.; cf. Burm. Anth. Lat. 1, p. 76; most freq. in Quint.); Manil. 3, 461; 6, 431: breviare quaedam, Quint. 1, 9, 2: aliquid callide, id. 5, 13, 41 Spald. N. cr. : prolixa (in scribendo), Lact. Epit. 8, 6; Sev. Sulp. Hist. Sacr. 1, 1: breviatae horae, Paul. Nol. Carm. Nat. S. Fel. 24, 9, 13: umerorum raro decens allevatio atque contractio est. Breviatur enim cervix, Quint. 11, 3, 83: non breviatis augustatisque gradibus ascenditur, Sid. Ep. 2, 2.—
II Transf.: Syllabam, to pronounce short , Quint. 12, 10, 57.