abridge

verb \ ə-ˈbrij \

Updated on: 10 Mar 2018

Definition of abridge

abridged; abridging

transitive verb

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

abridge a novel

an abridged dictionary

2 : to shorten in duration or extent

Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible …
—Thomas Hardy

3 formal : to reduce in scope : diminish

attempts to abridge the right of free speech

4 archaic : deprive

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abridger

noun

See abridge defined for English-language learners

See abridge defined for kids

Examples of abridge in a Sentence

abridge a dictionary by omitting rare words
the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs

Recent Examples of abridge from the Web

Frazier added that Cruz is looking to find ways to prosecute those who buy guns illegally, address mental health issues and make sure crimes are reported to the NICS database without abridging the Second Amendment.

— jonathan allen, NBC News, "Cruz caught in election-year bind on gun control," 5 Mar. 2018
Granted, his short speech inevitably abridged the long-form document.

— david frum, The Atlantic, "A National-Security Strategy Devoid of Values," 12 Dec. 2017
The couple has filed their own claim, alleging that Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John Russo's restraining order is abridging their free speech rights.

— phillip morris, cleveland.com, "President Trump gave a speech on race and few people heard it: Phillip Morris," 13 Dec. 2017
The idea is to prevent companies from exporting surveillance software to authoritarian regimes that could use these tools to abridge civil liberties and abuse human rights.

— kendall hoyt, Slate Magazine, "What Biosecurity and Cybersecurity Research Have in Common," 17 Mar. 2017
Editor’s note: In certain cases, daters’ answers have been abridged for space and clarity.

— david perloff, Pacific San Diego Magazine, "Blind date: Beauty and the feast," 1 Nov. 2017
The liberal justices do not like government actions that abridge the liberties of thousands based on some arguably arbitrary classification.

— mark joseph stern, Slate Magazine, "The Department of Justice has four options to salvage Trump’s immigration ban. Only one makes sense.," 10 Feb. 2017
No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.

— randy barnett, Washington Post, "What the Declaration of Independence Said and Meant," 4 July 2017
No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.

— george will, Twin Cities, "George Will: Questions for Judge Gorsuch," 19 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abridge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abridge

Middle English abreggen, abriggen "to reduce, diminish, shorten," borrowed from Anglo-French abreger, going back to Late Latin abbreviāre, from Latin ad- ad- + breviāre "to shorten, abridge," verbal derivative of brevis "short" — more at ¹brief

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

abridge Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of abridge

shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent. shorten implies reduction in length or duration.

- shorten a speech

curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy.

- ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

- using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

- the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

- declining business forced the company to retrench

ABRIDGE Defined for Kids

abridge

verb \ ə-ˈbrij \

Definition of abridge for Students

abridged; abridging

: to shorten by leaving out some parts

abridge a dictionary

Law Dictionary

abridge

transitive verb \ ə-ˈbrij \

legal Definition of abridge

abridged; abridging

: to diminish or reduce in scope

no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States
—U.S. Constitution amend. XIV

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