abridge Hear it!

abridge Definition

abridge (ə brij)

transitive verb abridged, abridg·ing

  1. to reduce in scope, extent, etc.; shorten
  2. to shorten (a piece of writing) while preserving its substance; condense
  3. to lessen or curtail (rights, authority, etc.)
  4. Rare to deprive (a person) of rights, privileges, etc.

Etymology: ME abregen < OFr abregier < LL abbreviare, abbreviate

abridge Related Forms
abridg·able adjective or abridge·able abridger noun
abridge Synonyms

abridge

v.

digest, condense, compress, shorten; see decrease 2, shorten. See syn. study atshorten.

abridge Law Definition

v

  1. To diminish, lessen, or restrict a legal right.
  2. To condense or shorten the whole of something, such as a book, and not merely a portion of it.
abridge Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • case: Next, ought they to be abridged in a case such as this?

Object

  • reprint: Notes: This is an abridged reprint of UNION JACK issue 243 DRINK!
  • version: These are listed below in an abridged version of the mail sent to him.
  • edition: An expert on Ruskin, his publications include an abridged edition of John Ruskin's Modern Painters.
  • freedom: It is provided that " congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.
  • translation: The spoken parts are in English - an abridged translation of the original by Richard Seaford.
  • form: The book appeared first in an abridged form in The Atlantic Monthly magazine.

Preposition: for

  • child: Children's music and drama - specially adapted and abridged for children.

Modifying Another Word

  • slightly: The Chalet Books, slightly abridged, are being reissued in the Armada series.
  • much: Ten minutes was allowed for each speaker, so even this briefing was much abridged.
  • not: He wrote because he liked to write; he did not abridge, because he cared not to abridge.
  • greatly: The Modern Library Edition is, of course, a greatly abridged version of the six-volume original.
  • often: The very period of sleep, so necessary for the young, is too often abridged.
  • heavily: This information is taken in heavily abridged form from the book " Freemasonry: A Celebration of the Craft.

Preposition: from

  • essay: This feature is abridged from an essay by Jan Stuart.
  • article: Armistice Day is abridged from an article in Peace News, 7 November 1936.

Browse dictionary entries near abridge

  1. abreast
  2. abreaction
  3. abrazo
  4. abrasive
  5. abrasion
  6. abranchiate
  7. Abram
  8. Abraham
  9. abrade
  10. abradant
  1. abridgment
  2. abroach
  3. abroad
  4. abrogate
  5. abrupt
  6. abruption
  7. Abruzzi
  8. abs
  9. abs-
  10. Absalom