All 16 Uses of
brief
in
Jane Eyre
Uses with a very common or rare meaning:
- I was spared the trouble of answering, for Bessie seemed in too great a hurry to listen to explanations; she hauled me to the washstand, inflicted a merciless, but happily brief scrub on my face and hands with soap, water, and a coarse towel; disciplined my head with a bristly brush, denuded me of my pinafore, and then hurrying me to the top of the stairs, bid me go down directly, as I was wanted in the breakfast-room.†
Chpt 4
- I did so; a brief examination convinced me that the contents were less taking than the title: "Rasselas" looked dull to my trifling taste; I saw nothing about fairies, nothing about genii; no bright variety seemed spread over the closely-printed pages.†
Chpt 5
- A brief address on those occasions would not be mistimed, wherein a judicious instructor would take the opportunity of referring to the sufferings of the primitive Christians; to the torments of martyrs; to the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself, calling upon His disciples to take up their cross and follow Him; to His warnings that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God; to His divine consolations, "If ye suffer hunger or…†
Chpt 7
- Such was the characteristic of Helen's discourse on that, to me, memorable evening; her spirit seemed hastening to live within a very brief span as much as many live during a protracted existence.†
Chpt 8
- There still remained an inch of candle: I now took out my letter; the seal was an initial F.; I broke it; the contents were brief.†
Chpt 10
- But not without taking leave; not without a word or two of acknowledgment and good-will: not, in short, in that brief, dry fashion.†
Chpt 15
- She said "Good morning, Miss," in her usual phlegmatic and brief manner; and taking up another ring and more tape, went on with her sewing.†
Chpt 16
- You repeated to yourself this morning the brief scene of last night?†
Chpt 16
- After a brief stay there, I shall bear my treasure to regions nearer the sun: to French vineyards and Italian plains; and she shall see whatever is famous in old story and in modern record: she shall taste, too, of the life of cities; and she shall learn to value herself by just comparison with others.†
Chpt 24
- The morning had been a quiet morning enough — all except the brief scene with the lunatic: the transaction in the church had not been noisy; there was no explosion of passion, no loud altercation, no dispute, no defiance or challenge, no tears, no sobs: a few words had been spoken, a calmly pronounced objection to the marriage made; some stern, short questions put by Mr. Rochester; answers, explanations given, evidence adduced; an open admission of the truth had been uttered by my…†
Chpt 26
- I began once more to know myself; and when Mr. St. John demanded an account — which at present I was far too weak to render — I said after a brief pause — "Sir, I can give you no details to-night."†
Chpt 28
- It is my way — it always was my way, by instinct — ever to meet the brief with brevity, the direct with plainness.†
Chpt 29
- In this brief hour I had learnt more of him than in the whole previous month: yet still he puzzled me.†
Chpt 30
- I busied myself for an hour or two with arranging my things in my chamber, drawers, and wardrobe, in the order wherein I should wish to leave them during a brief absence.†
Chpt 36
- I began sometimes to pray: very brief prayers they were, but very sincere.†
Chpt 37 *
- My tale draws to its close: one word respecting my experience of married life, and one brief glance at the fortunes of those whose names have most frequently recurred in this narrative, and I have done.†
Chpt 38
Definition:
-
(meaning too common or rare to warrant focus) Brief is most commonly encountered as an adjective meaning "of short duration." Other meanings derive from the idea of short--as when making a long story short by summarizing it, or when wearing briefs (underwear).