definition of the word abridge

From Middle English abregen, from 14th Century Middle French abregier, (French abréger), from Late Latin abbrevio, from Latin ad + brēvio (“‘shorten’”). See brief and compare abbreviate

• (RP) IPA: /əˈbrɪdʒ/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

to abridge (third-person singular simple present abridges, present participle abridging, simple past and past participle abridged)

1. (transitive) To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights.

   • The bridegroom ... abridged his visit. - Smollett
   • She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. - Fuller

2. (transitive) To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary.
3. (transitive) To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

• abridged
• abridger

• abridgement
• unabridged

Definition from Wiktionary Content avaible with GNU Free Documentation License

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