abridge
uh-BRIJ
/əˈbrɪdʒ/
shorten a book, movie, or speech without losing the main narrative or sense.
Refers specifically to structural editorial cutting of creative or academic works.
The story behind the word. Traveled from Latin abbreviare (from ad- + brevis 'short') through Anglo-Norman French abreger into English as abridge. The English 'dge' spelling developed in Anglo-French, transforming the original root into its modern literary form.
Word relationships
- truncate: Truncate means cutting off an end or top abruptly, while abridge selectively trims throughout.
- shorten: Shorten is the general term, whereas abridge specifically applies to texts, rights, or formal works.
- expand: Expand means to enlarge or add extra material.
- lengthen: Lengthen means to extend duration or physical length.
Commonly confused with
- curtail: Curtail cuts short an event, budget, or activity; abridge cuts short a book, document, or legal privilege.
Word family
- abridgment (noun): a shortened version of a larger work
- abridged (adjective): shortened or condensed in format
Collocations
- abridge a text
- abridged dictionary
- abridged version
- abridge rights
Example sentences
- "The publisher decided to abridge the monumental historical biography for high school readers." Publishing industry
- "No law shall be passed that purports to abridge the fundamental freedom of speech." Legal commentary
Memory hook
A BRIDGE creates a shortcut; to ABRIDGE a book is to build a shortcut through its pages. Building a short path through a long book.
When not to use
Do not use to describe physical objects or cutting short an activity like a meeting; use curtail instead.
Fun facts
- The world's longest novels, like Les Misérables, are most frequently sold in abridged editions.
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