abridge

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈbrɪdʒ/ UK /əˈbrɪdʒ/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to shorten a text or account while retaining its essential content

The editor was asked to abridge the lengthy novel for a younger audience.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to shorten a text or... shorten condense abbreviate curtail truncate compress summarize

Opposites

expand lengthen extend amplify elaborate

Word family

Derived forms abridgmentabridgementabridger

Related forms abbreviate briefbreviary

Etymology

From Old French abregier ('to shorten'), from Late Latin abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre, from brevis ('short').

abregier Old French abbreviāre Latin brevis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# abridge

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈbrɪdʒ/
**IPA (UK):** /əˈbrɪdʒ/

## Meanings
1. to shorten a text or account while retaining its essential content

## Examples
- The editor was asked to abridge the lengthy novel for a younger audience.

## Synonyms
- shorten
- condense
- abbreviate
- curtail
- truncate
- compress
- summarize

## Antonyms
- expand
- lengthen
- extend
- amplify
- elaborate

## Derived Forms
- abridgment
- abridgement
- abridger

## Related Forms
- abbreviate
- brief
- breviary

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: abregier
- Root: abbreviāre
- Root: brevis

## Etymology
From Old French abregier ('to shorten'), from Late Latin abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre, from brevis ('short').

## AI Etymology
Abridge is a verb meaning "to shorten a text or account while retaining its essential content". Historically, it is from Old French abregier ('to shorten'), from Late Latin abbreviāre ('to shorten'), from ad- ('to') + breviāre, from brevis ('short'). The visible construction is part of the etymology: abridge is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain links Old French abregier, Latin abbreviāre, and Latin brevis. Close English family members include abridgment, abridgement, abridger, abbreviate, and brief.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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