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  1. brevet love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. A commission promoting a military officer in rank without an increase in pay.
  2. v. To promote by brevet.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. A letter of authority; a commission.
  2. n. In the British and American armies, a commission to an officer which promotes him to a higher rank, without conferring a right to receive corresponding advance in pay. In Great Britain it does not descend lower than the rank of captain, nor ascend higher than that of lieutenant-colonel, and confers the right to a corresponding advance in command. In the United States army it extends from the rank of first lieutenant to that of lieutenant-general, but gives no advanced command except by special assignment of the President. Brevets are conferred by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for “gallant actions and meritorious services.”
  3. n. A patent; a warrant; a license; a commission; an official diploma in writing, conferring some privilege or distinction.
  4. Assigned or conferred by brevet; appointed by brevet.
  5. To confer brevet rank upon.

Wiktionary

  1. n. A military document entitling a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but without an increase in pay.
  2. n. An organized, long-distance bicycle ride — not a race, but a test of endurance — which follows a designated but unmarked route passing through check points.
  3. v. To promote by brevet.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. n. A warrant from the government, granting a privilege, title, or dignity. [French usage].
  2. n. (Mil.) A commission giving an officer higher rank than that for which he receives pay; an honorary promotion of an officer.
  3. v. (Mil.) To confer rank upon by brevet.
  4. adj. (Mil.) Taking or conferring rank by brevet.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. promote somebody by brevet, in the military
  2. n. a document entitling a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily (but without higher pay)

Etymologies

  1. Middle English brevet 'official letter', from Anglo-Norman diminutive of bref 'letter', from Latin brevis 'short' (see English brief) (Wiktionary)
  2. Middle English, official letter, from Anglo-Norman, diminutive of bref, letter, from Latin brevis, short; see brief. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

Examples

  • “Count ([Greek: komês]; comes; companion), but having not yet laid aside his belt of office, nor received the honour of admission to the palace, or what they call brevet-rank (_codicilli vacantes_), which honour at the end of his term of service is given to him, and to none of the other chiefs of departments [126].”

    The Letters of Cassiodorus Being A Condensed Translation Of The Variae Epistolae Of Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator

  • “It might have lasted for ever if the Major had not been made what is called a brevet-colonel during the shuffling of troops that went on just before the South African War.”

    The Good Soldier

  • “In order to advance to lycée or high school, students are required to take a week-long exam called the brevet at the end of Grade 9.”

    Planet Nomad

  • “I predict a randonneuring parody by 2020, which should give him plenty of time to compile a bunch of words that rhyme with "brevet" and plan a "collabo" with Velo Orange.”

    Parroting: Continual Conversations with the Road

  • “Jane and I see that she goes to everything, and we've scared her up a kind of brevet beau -- an old rooster named Brownwell -- Adrian Pericles Brownwell, who has blown in here and bought the _Banner_ from Ezra Lane.”

    A Certain Rich Man

  • “To get back to the surrender of 1 GORDONS - I can't go and dig out the story at the moment but it somehow involved the question of 'brevet' rank at the time and a trial for slander (?) after the war.”

    Army Rumour Service

  • “Slim Master of War by Robert Lyman john To get back to the surrender of 1 GORDONS - I can't go and dig out the story at the moment but it somehow involved the question of 'brevet' rank at the time and a trial for slander (?) after the war.”

    Army Rumour Service

  • “He laughed to himself as he mused: "You know, my dear, I had to let 'brevet' and 'fret' and”

    A Certain Rich Man

  • “Washington told Stephen on February 1 that he was leaving for Boston, hoping to solve the Dagworthy problem and gain the brevet commissions.”

    Simon & Schuster: George Washington’s First War

  • “Washington protested the absurd situation, and Dinwiddie wrote to Commander in Chief William Shirley asking for brevet commissions for Washington and his officers.”

    Simon & Schuster: George Washington’s First War

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hypernyms (9)

Words that are more generic or abstract

  1. kick upstairs
  1. upgrade
  1. elevate
  1. raise
  1. promote
  1. advance
  1. document
  1. written document
  1. papers

same context (17)

Words that are found in similar contexts

  1. co-option
  2. high-page
  3. ambassadorial
  1. gubernatorial
  2. misanthropist
  3. half pay
  1. aldermanic
  2. ex-army
  3. lieutenant
  1. lieutenant colonel
  2. romulan
  3. senatorial
  1. seven-member
  2. noncommissioned
  3. clinch
  1. thedemocratic
  2. consular

reverse dictionary (6)

Words that contain this word in their definition

  1. brev
  1. brevet
  1. brevetcy
  1. brev.
  1. bvt.
  1. supernumerary

tagging (1)

Words tagged ‘brevet’

  1. brev

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Lists

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Comments

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  • hernesheir The "Perfect Brevet" is the name of an antique French corkscrew in my collection. This design utilizes a lazy-tongs mechanism to lever a cork from the bottle. Jan 28, 2010

  • mollusque We found that it was etiquette to call them each captain, but I think some of the Deephaven men took the title by brevet upon arriving at a proper age.
    --Sarah Orne Jewett, 1877, Deephaven Jan 28, 2010

  • chained_bear I love this word. Jul 23, 2008

  • yarb Delightful inducements to embark, fine chance for promotion, it seems--aye, a stove boat will make me an immortal by brevet.

    - Melville, Moby-Dick, ch. 7 Jul 23, 2008

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‘brevet’ has been looked up 2479 times, loved by 1 person, added to 17 lists, commented on 4 times, and has a Scrabble score of 11.