Brief vs Vague - What's the difference?
brief | vague |
Of short duration; happening quickly.
* (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
*, chapter=10
, title= * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 7, author=Matt Bai, title=Winning a Second Term, Obama Will Confront Familiar Headwinds, work=New York Times
, passage=That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past. }}
Concise; taking few words.
* (Ben Johnson) (1572-1637)
*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
, chapter=1 Occupying a small distance, area or spatial extent; short.
* 1983 , Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers , Penguin 2009, p. 17:
(obsolete) Rife; common; prevalent.
(legal) A writ summoning one to answer to any action.
(legal) An answer to any action.
* 1996 The Japanese Rule of Civil Procedure, Article 79 (1):
(legal) A memorandum of points of fact or of law for use in conducting a case.
(legal) An attorney's legal argument in written form for submission to a court.
(English law) The material relevant to a case, delivered by a solicitor to the barrister who tries the case.
(informal) A short news story or report.
* We got a news brief .
* Shakespeare
(obsolete) A summary, or epitome; an abridgement or abstract.
* 1589 Thomas Nashe, The Anatomie of Absurditie 5:
* Overbury
(UK, historical) A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose.
To summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power.
(legal) To write a legal argument and submit it to a court.
(obsolete, poetic) Briefly.
* Milton
(obsolete, poetic) Soon; quickly.
Not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.
*
*2004: , Character: Profiles in Presidential Courage
*:Throughout the first week of his presidency, Dulles and Bissell continued to brief Kennedy on their strategy for Cuba, but the men were vague and their meetings offered little in the way of hard facts.
Not having a precise meaning.
:
Not clearly defined, grasped, or understood; indistinct; slight.
:
Not clearly felt or sensed; somewhat subconscious.
:
Not thinking or expressing one’s thoughts clearly or precisely.
Lacking expression; vacant.
Not sharply outlined; hazy.
*{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Michael Arlen), title=
, passage=He walked. To the corner of Hamilton Place and Picadilly, and there stayed for a while, for it is a romantic station by night. The vague and careless rain looked like threads of gossamer silver passing across the light of the arc-lamps.}}
Wandering; vagrant; vagabond.
*Sir (c.1564-1627)
*:to set upon the vague villains
*(John Keats) (1795-1821)
*:She danced along with vague , regardless eyes.
(obsolete) A wandering; a vagary.
An indefinite expanse.
* Lowell
To wander; to roam; to stray.
* Holland
In obsolete terms the difference between brief and vague
is that brief is a summary, précis or epitome; an abridgement or abstract while vague is a wandering; a vagary.As adjectives the difference between brief and vague
is that brief is of short duration; happening quickly while vague is not clearly expressed; stated in indefinite terms.As nouns the difference between brief and vague
is that brief is a writ summoning one to answer to any action while vague is a wandering; a vagary.As verbs the difference between brief and vague
is that brief is to summarize a recent development to some person with decision-making power while vague is to wander; to roam; to stray.As an adverb brief
is briefly.brief
English
Adjective
(en adjective)- How brief the life of man.
The Mirror and the Lamp, passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
citation
- The brief style is that which expresseth much in little.
citation, passage=She was like a Beardsley Salome , he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creature, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry. His wooing had been brief but incisive.}}
- On the beach he always wore a straw hat with a red band and a brief pair of leopard print trunks.
Synonyms
* See also * See alsoDerived terms
* brieflyNoun
(en noun)- A written answer or any other brief shall be submitted to the court while allowing a period necessary for the opponent to make preparations with regard to the matters stated therein.
- Bear this sealed brief , / With winged haste, to the lord marshal.
- A survey of their follie, a briefe of their barbarisme.
- Each woman is a brief of womankind.
Derived terms
* briefs * control briefReferences
*Verb
(en verb)- The U.S. president was briefed on the military coup and its implications on African stability.
Derived terms
* briefing * brevityAdverb
(en adverb)- Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief .
- (Shakespeare)
External links
* * *Anagrams
* ----vague
English
Adjective
(er)“Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days, chapter=Ep./1/2
Synonyms
* obscure * ambiguousNoun
(en noun)- (Holinshed)
- The gray vague of unsympathizing sea.
Verb
(vagu)- [The soul] doth vague and wander.