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abridge

[ uh-brij ]
/ əˈbrɪdʒ /
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See synonyms for: abridge / abridged on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), a·bridged, a·bridg·ing.
to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic contents: to abridge a reference book.
to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.; diminish; curtail: to abridge a visit;to abridge one's freedom.
to deprive; cut off.
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Origin of abridge

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English abreggen, abriggen, from Middle French abreg(i)er, from Late Latin abbreviāre “to shorten”; see a-4, abbreviate

synonym study for abridge

1. See shorten.

OTHER WORDS FROM abridge

a·bridg·a·ble, a·bridge·a·ble, adjectivea·bridg·er, nounnon·a·bridg·a·ble, adjectivere·a·bridge, verb (used with object), re·a·bridged, re·a·bridg·ing.

Words nearby abridge

abrazo, abreact, abreaction, abreast, abri, abridge, abridged, abridgment, abrin, abristle, abroach
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to abridge

curtail, abbreviate, truncate, trim, snip, cut, clip, lessen, abstract, reduce, condense, contract, downsize, restrict, concentrate, decrease, slash, diminish, limit, summarize

How to use abridge in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abridge

abridge
/ (əˈbrɪdʒ) /
verb (tr)
to reduce the length of (a written work) by condensing or rewriting
to curtail; diminish
archaic to deprive of (privileges, rights, etc)

Derived forms of abridge

abridgable or abridgeable, adjectiveabridger, noun

Word Origin for abridge

C14: via Old French abregier from Late Latin abbreviāre to shorten
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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