abridge

abridge

transitive verb \ə-ˈbrij\

abridgedabridg·ing

Definition of ABRIDGE

1

a archaic : deprive

b : to reduce in scope : diminish <attempts to abridge the right of free speech>

2

: to shorten in duration or extent <modern transportation that abridges distance>

3

: to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense : condense

— abridg·er noun

Examples of ABRIDGE

1. abridge a dictionary by omitting rare words
2. <the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs>

Origin of ABRIDGE

Middle English abregen, from Anglo-French abreger, from Late Latin abbreviare, from Latin ad- + brevis short — more at brief

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ABRIDGE

Synonyms

abbreviate, shorten, curtail, cut back, dock, elide, syncopate, truncate

Antonyms

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

Related Words

abstract, digest, encapsulate, epitomize, recapitulate, summarize, sum up; abate, compress, constrict, contract, cut, cut down, pare, prune, trim; decrease, de-escalate, deflate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, moderate, modify, reduce, retrench, shrink, slash, subtract (from), taper

Near Antonyms

enlarge, expand, supplement; add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, dilate, escalate, heighten, increase, maximize, pump up, raise; blow up, distend, inflate, swell

See Synonym Discussion at shorten

Rhymes with ABRIDGE

Banbridge, Blue Ridge, browridge, drawbridge, footbridge, gall midge, Lethbridge, Oak Ridge, Oxbridge, Stourbridge, teethridge, truss bridge