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.
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ceremonies curtailed because of rain abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.
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using an abbreviated title abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.
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the abridged version of the novel retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.
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declining business forced the company to retrench
Abbreviate and abridge both mean "to make shorter," so it probably will come as no surprise that both derive from the Latin verb brevis, meaning "short." Abbreviate first appeared in print in English in the 15th century and derives from abbreviatus, the past participle of Late Latin abbreviare, which in turn can be traced back to brevis. Abridge, which appeared a century earlier, also comes from abbreviare but took a side trip through Anglo-French before arriving in Middle English as abregen. Brevis is also the ancestor of English brief itself, as well as brevity and breviary ("a prayer book" or "a brief summary"), among others.
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Middle English abbreviaten, borrowed from Late Latin abbreviātus, past participle of abbreviāre "to make shorter" — more at abridge
Synonyms for abbreviate
Words Related to abbreviate
Near Antonyms for abbreviate
Antonyms for abbreviate
abbreviate
verb