The quality of being short in space or time; little length or little duration; as the shortness of a journey or of distance; the shortness of the days in winter; the shortness of life.

Fewness of words; brevity; conciseness; as the shortness of an essay. The prayers of the church, by reason of their shortness, are easy for the memory.

Want of reach or the power of retention; as the shortness of the memory.

Deficiency; imperfection; limited extent; as the shortness of our reason.