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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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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