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A brief writing formed as if to be inscribed on a monument, as that concerning Alexander: "Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret orbis."

s of a former work are reduced within a smaller space by curtailment and condensation; a brief summary; an abridgement. [An] epitome of the contents of a very large book. Sydney Smith.

t of writer often evaporates in the process of translation. To give moderate liberty for griefs and discontents to evaporate . . . is a safe way. Bacon.

the violet, . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. Shak. That kills me with excess of grief, this with excess of joy. Walsh.

Characterized by, or exhibiting, excess; overmuch. Excessive grief [is] the enemy to the living. Shak.

The act of substituting one thing in the place of another; as, an exchange of grief for joy, or of a scepter for a sword, and the like; also, the act of giving and receiving reciprocally; as, an exchange of civilities or views.

eeling; sudden expression of sound or words indicative of emotion, as in surprise, pain, grief, joy, anger, etc. Exclamations against abuses in the church. Hooker. Thus will I drown your exclamations. Shak. A festive exclamation not unsuited to the occasion. Trench.

A journey chiefly for recreation; a pleasure trip; a brief tour; as, an excursion into the country.

voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence. Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Sam. xii. 21. Fasting day, a fast day; a day of fasting.

The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period. The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.

The act of wavering or of fluttering; flucuation; sudden and brief increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame.

life, that is, youth. The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain. Hooker. The flower of the chivalry of all Spain. Southey. A simple maiden in her flower Is worth a hundred coats of arms. Tennyson.

A sudden and brief blast or gust; a light, temporary breeze; as, a flurry of wind.

(formerly also by on). More fond on her than she upon her love. Shak. You are as fond of grief as of your child. Shak. A great traveler, and fond of telling his adventures. Irving.

To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate. What need a man forestall his date of grief, And run to meet what he would most avoid Milton.

Anything of small size, or expressed within brief limits, which is regarded as a gem on account of its beauty or value, as a small picture, a verse of poetry, a witty or wise saying. Artificial gem, an imitation of a gem, made of glass colored with metallic oxide. Cf. Paste, and Strass.

or pertaining to girlhood; innocent; artless; immature; weak; as, girlish ways; girlish grief. -- Girl"ish*ly, adv. -- Girl"ish*ness, n.

To hint at; to touch lightly or briefly. [Obs.] In company I often glanced it. Shak.

(see Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 19, 161, 162). Also (by Bell and others), the vanish (or brief final element) or the brief initial element, in a class of diphthongal vowels, or the brief final or initial part of some consonants (see Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 18, 97, 191).

A brief reflection or maxim. Peacham.