ABRIDGE - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Verb
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
Example: The manuscript must be shortened
Categories: Decrease, Lessen, Minify
📖 Fun Facts About Abridge
- • To abridge means to shorten a book or speech while keeping the main ideas intact.
- • Some classic novels were officially abridged for early radio broadcasts so stories could fit into single episodes without losing key plot twists.
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Verb
lessen, diminish, or curtail
Example: the new law might abridge our freedom of expression
Categories: Restrict, Curtail, Curb, Cut back
Synonyms
Shorten, Foreshorten, Reduce, Cut, Abbreviate
Antonyms
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "abridge" comes from Late Latin abbrevio. It started in Old French abregier. Then it appeared in Middle English abreggen.
🔗 Related Words
abbreviate – A related word in the same word family.
🧩 Fun Fact
Words that pass through many languages often accumulate layers of meaning from each culture.