Glossesbrief

Glossesbrief is a term used in philology to describe a concise gloss or explanatory note attached to a word or phrase within a text. The glossesbrief typically appears as a short marginal note or an interlinear annotation intended to clarify meaning, grammar, or etymology for readers of the manuscript or edition.

Etymology and usage vary by tradition. The word combines elements meaning gloss (explanation) and brief (short) and is used mainly in discussions of textual annotation and glossing practices in medieval and early modern manuscripts. It is not a universally standardized label, and its exact sense can differ among scholarly communities.

Characteristics commonly associated with a glossesbrief include brevity, topical focus on a single word or phrase, and placement close to the term it explains, such as in the margin or between lines. In practice, such brief glosses may be indicated by symbols or initials that tie the note to a corresponding entry in a larger editorial apparatus. In published editions, glossesbrief-like notes often appear as footnotes or compact editorial glosses rather than as full scholia.

Historical context and modern usage. Glossing practices date back to late antiquity and proliferate in Latin and vernacular manuscripts, where marginalia and interlinear annotations aided comprehension. The glossesbrief, as a defined term, is used in some contemporary discussions to distinguish short explanatory notes from longer commentaries or scholia.

See also: gloss, marginalia, interlinear gloss, scholia.