abridge
abridge Lexical Profile
abridge Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To shorten a book, play, speech, or other text without losing the main sense or core content.
"The publisher decided to abridge the massive three-volume biography into a single accessible edition for students."
To curtail, diminish, or lessen a right, privilege, or scope of authority.
"The constitution strictly forbids the legislature from passing any law that would abridge the freedom of speech."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'abridge' and 'abbreviate' both mean to shorten, 'abridge' specifically applies to condensing a book, play, or speech while preserving its core meaning, whereas 'abbreviate' typically refers to shortening individual words or phrases.
• Rhymes for abridge
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into Middle English from Old French 'abregier', from Late Latin 'abbreviare' ('to make short'), derived from Latin 'ad-' ('to') and 'brevis' ('short'). It is a linguistic doublet of 'abbreviate', which was borrowed later directly from Latin.