foreshorten

C2+ Topic:Mathematics & Measurement

US /fɔrˈʃɔrtən/ UK /fɔːˈʃɔːtən/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to depict an object as shorter to suggest depth or perspective

The painter foreshortened the outstretched arm to draw the eye inward.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to depict an object as... shorten abridge compress contract

Opposites

lengthen extend elongate

Word family

Derived forms foreshortening

Related forms fore shorten short

Etymology

A compound of fore- (here 'in front, in perspective') and shorten (from short, Old English sceort), an artistic term for depicting an object as shortened to convey depth and perspective.

fore Old English sceort Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Mathematics & Measurement Word Formation & Derivatives

# foreshorten

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

## Meanings
1. to depict an object as shorter to suggest depth or perspective

## Examples
- The painter foreshortened the outstretched arm to draw the eye inward.

## Synonyms
- shorten
- abridge
- compress
- contract

## Antonyms
- lengthen
- extend
- elongate

## Derived Forms
- foreshortening

## Related Forms
- fore
- shorten
- short

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: fore
- Root: sceort

## Etymology
A compound of fore- (here 'in front, in perspective') and shorten (from short, Old English sceort), an artistic term for depicting an object as shortened to convey depth and perspective.

## AI Etymology
Foreshorten is a compound of fore- (here 'in front, in perspective') and shorten (from short, Old English sceort), an artistic term for depicting an object as shortened to convey depth and perspective. The compound structure is semantically important: one element narrows the setting, direction, or quality, and the other supplies the object, action, or base idea. As a verb, it means "to depict an object as shorter to suggest depth or perspective", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Old English fore and Old English sceort. Derivative forms include foreshortening; related words include fore, shorten, short.

## Topics
- Mathematics & Measurement
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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