I think the definition give for brevet in the spelling bee may be unsatisfactory.You will often
see it in Civil War history, where temporary commissions were given that increased
authority but not pay or permanent rank status.
bre[vet
n.
5ME < OFr, dim. of bref, BRIEF6 [Historical] Mil. a commission nominally promoting an officer to a higher honorary rank without higher pay but, sometimes, with greater authority
vt.
3vet4ted or 3vet4ed, 3vet4ting or 3vet4ing to give a brevet to