shorthand

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   written in abbreviated or symbolic form

   Shorthand notes.

2. 2
   noun

   A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc.

   There is a Notion prevails among many People, to yͤ prejudice of all kinds of Short-hand; which is this. That when a Person sets down a Memorandum in his pocket Book in Short-hand, it is lost, in caſe of Death or any other accident, to yͤ rest of yͤ World, though it may contain things of great Consequence to other People. [...] I affirm, [...] that if any Person makes use of my long Short hand, which he will certainly do, in caſe he deſigns that what he writes should be read by another Person, it will be as legible to any one acquainted with this Art, as if it was writ in Round Hand.

3. 3
   noun

   Any brief or shortened way of saying or doing something.

   The jargon becomes a shorthand for these advanced concepts.

4. 4
   verb

   To render (spoken or written words) into shorthand.

   All the time she'd pretended to be fiddling with her purse over there behind the man, she'd been shorthanding him down—every word, every quotation, every date, every name.

The noun is derived from short + hand (“handwriting; style of penmanship”). The verb is derived from the noun.

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