abridgment

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.

Alternative forms

• abridgement

Etymology

From Middle English abregement, from Middle French; see abridge.

Noun

abridgment (plural abridgments)

1. (US) The act of abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses.
2. (US) An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation.

   • Ancient coins as abridgments of history. - Joseph Addison

3. (obsolete) That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly

   • What abridgment have you for this evening? What masque? what music? - Shakespeare, Midsummer Night's Dream, V-i

Usage notes

• In current usage this spelling is about as common as abridgement in the US, but much less common in the UK.
• Notes on near-synonyms:
  • An abridgment is made by omitting the less important parts of some larger work; as, an abridgment of a dictionary.
  • A compendium is a brief exhibition of a subject, or science, for common use; as, a compendium of American literature.
  • An epitome corresponds to a compendium, and gives briefly the most material points of a subject; as, an epitome of history.
  • An abstract is a brief statement of a thing in its main points.
  • A synopsis is a bird's-eye view of a subject, or work, in its several parts.

Synonyms

• (act of abridging): compendium, epitome, abstract, synopsis, précis

Related terms

• abridge

Translations

act of abridging

Dutch: bekorting, verkorting.

shortened form

Dutch: ingekorte versie, uitreksel, korte inhoud.

Spanish: compendio (es), resumen (es)

External links

• abridgment in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• abridgment in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• abridgment at OneLook Dictionary Search