abridge

verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

transitive verb

1

: to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense : condense

abridge a novel

an abridged dictionary

2

: to shorten in duration or extent

Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible …

—Thomas Hardy

3

formal : to reduce in scope : diminish

attempts to abridge the right of free speech

4

archaic : deprive

abridger noun

Synonyms

• abbreviate
• curtail
• cut back
• dock
• elide
• shorten
• syncopate
• truncate

Choose the Right Synonym for abridge

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.

ceremonies curtailed because of rain

abbreviate implies a making shorter usually by omitting some part.

using an abbreviated title

abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result.

the abridged version of the novel

retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive.

declining business forced the company to retrench

Examples of abridge in a Sentence

abridge a dictionary by omitting rare words

the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs

Recent Examples on the Web

The First Amendment right against abridging the freedom of the press is no shield for lawbreaking, so Gonzalez has to establish whether Seligson was a participant in this offense or an observer. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024

Unlike the First Amendment—which prohibits abridging the freedom of speech—the Second Amendment bans infringing upon the right to bear arms, a very different construction. —Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024

Responses have been edited for clarity and abridged. —Christina Avery, The Arizona Republic, 10 July 2024

The First Amendment flatly prohibits the government from abridging the freedom of speech. —Susan Shelley, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English abreggen, abriggen "to reduce, diminish, shorten," borrowed from Anglo-French abreger, going back to Late Latin abbreviāre, from Latin ad- ad- + breviāre "to shorten, abridge," verbal derivative of brevis "short" — more at brief entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Kids Definition

abridge

verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

1

formal : to make less : diminish

forbidden to abridge the rights of citizens

2

: to shorten in duration or extent

3

: to shorten by omission of words : condense

abridger noun

Etymology

Middle English abregen "deprive, reduce," from early French abreger (same meaning), from Latin abbreviare "to shorten" — related to abbreviate

Legal Definition

abridge

transitive verb

ə-ˈbrij 

abridged; abridging

: to diminish or reduce in scope

no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States

—U.S. Constitution amend. XIV

abridgment noun

or abridgement