Abridge

Pronunciation: /əˈbrɪdʒ/

Definitions of abridge

verb to shorten or condense a written work by reducing its length or content

Example Sentences

A1 I abridge the novel to make it shorter for my book report.

A2 She abridged the article to fit within the word count limit.

B1 The editor abridged the manuscript to improve its readability.

B2 The director abridged the play to make it more suitable for a younger audience.

C1 The historian abridged the lengthy document into a concise summary.

C2 The composer abridged the symphony for a smaller orchestra.

Examples of abridge in a Sentence

formal The publisher decided to abridge the classic novel for a younger audience.

informal I had to abridge my presentation because I ran out of time.

slang I'm going to abridge this article so it's easier to read.

figurative He tried to abridge her freedom, but she refused to be controlled.

Grammatical Forms of abridge

• past tense: abridged
• plural: abridges
• comparative: more abridged
• superlative: most abridged
• present tense: abridge
• future tense: will abridge
• perfect tense: has abridged
• continuous tense: is abridging
• singular: abridge
• positive degree: abridge
• infinitive: to abridge
• gerund: abridging
• participle: abridged

Origin and Evolution of abridge

First Known Use: 1300 year

Language of Origin: Old French and Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'abridge' originated from the Old French word 'abregier', which came from the Latin word 'abbreviare' meaning 'to shorten'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'abridge' has retained its meaning of shortening or condensing, but has also come to be used in a more figurative sense to mean reducing the length or complexity of something.