abridge

Meaning

1. (archaic, transitive) To deprive; to cut off.
2. (archaic, rare, transitive) To debar from.
3. (transitive) To make shorter; to shorten in duration or extent.
4. (transitive) To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense.
5. (transitive) Cut short; truncate.
6. (transitive) To curtail.

Synonyms

shorten

abbreviate

curtail

reduce

restrict

cut

limit

confine

condense

decrease

shrink

lessen

diminish

foreshorten

abstract

contract

compress

summarize

summarise

trim

circumscribe

epitomize

cut down

ease

dock

constrict

be concise

truncate

sum up

tuck up

take summary action

retrench

clip

recapitulate

cut short

lower

stint

cut back

abate

detract

make smaller

razee

boil down

downsize

couch

🛋️

behead

constrain

bate

axe

🪓

demolish

Translations

abréger

inkorten

abreviar

verkürzen

abbreviare

kürzen

raccourcir

abreviar

συντομεύω

bekorten

verkorten

limitare

verminderen

limiter

ridurre

Pronounced as (IPA)

/əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: abreggen

In summary

From Middle English abreggen, abregge, abrigge (“curtail, lessen”), from Old French abregier, abreger, from Late Latin abbreviō, abberiāre (“make brief”). Doublet of abbreviate.