The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Apostolic \Ap`os*tol"ic\, Apostolical \Ap`os*tol"ic*al\, a. [L.
apostolicus, Gr. ?: cf. F. apostolique.]
1. Pertaining to an apostle, or to the apostles, their times,
or their peculiar spirit; as, an apostolical mission; the
apostolic age.
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2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or
taught by the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice.
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3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal.
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Apostolical brief. See under Brief.
Apostolic canons, a collection of rules and precepts
relating to the duty of Christians, and particularly to
the ceremonies and discipline of the church in the second
and third centuries.
Apostolic church, the Christian church; -- so called on
account of its apostolic foundation, doctrine, and order.
The churches of Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem
were called apostolic churches.
Apostolic constitutions, directions of a nature similar to
the apostolic canons, and perhaps compiled by the same
authors or author.
Apostolic fathers, early Christian writers, who were born
in the first century, and thus touched on the age of the
apostles. They were Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and
Hermas; to these Barnabas has sometimes been added.
Apostolic king (or majesty), a title granted by the pope
to the kings of Hungary on account of the extensive
propagation of Christianity by St. Stephen, the founder of
the royal line. It is now a title of the emperor of
Austria in right of the throne of Hungary.
Apostolic see, a see founded and governed by an apostle;
specifically, the Church of Rome; -- so called because, in
the Roman Catholic belief, the pope is the successor of
St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, and the only
apostle who has successors in the apostolic office.
Apostolical succession, the regular and uninterrupted
transmission of ministerial authority by a succession of
bishops from the apostles to any subsequent period.
--Hook.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Brief \Brief\ (br[=e]f), n. [See Brief, a., and cf. Breve.]
1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few
words.
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Bear this sealed brief,
With winged hastle, to the lord marshal. --Shak.
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And she told me
In a sweet, verbal brief. --Shak.
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2. An epitome.
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Each woman is a brief of womankind. --Overbury.
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3. (Law) An abridgment or concise statement of a client's
case, made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial
at law. This word is applied also to a statement of the
heads or points of a law argument.
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It was not without some reference to it that I
perused many a brief. --Sir J.
Stephen.
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Note: In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in
the United States, counsel generally make up their own
briefs.
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4. (Law) A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2.
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5. (Scots Law) A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to
any judge ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge
to call a jury to inquire into the case, and upon their
verdict to pronounce sentence.
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6. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a
collection or charitable contribution of money in
churches, for any public or private purpose. [Eng.]
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7. pl. a type of men's underpants without legs, fitting
tightly and held by an elastic waistband; also called
Jockey shorts.
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Apostolical brief, a letter of the pope written on fine
parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the
secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," i. e.,
"from the day of the Nativity," and sealed with the ring
of the fisherman. It differs from a bull, in its
parchment, written character, date, and seal. See Bull.
Brief of title, an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds
and other papers constituting the chain of title to any
real estate.
In brief, in a few words; in short; briefly. "Open the
matter in brief." --Shak.
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