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abbreviate (v.)

mid-15c., "to make shorter," from Latin abbreviatus, past participle of abbreviare "to shorten, make brief," from ad "to" (see ad-) + breviare "shorten," from brevis "short, low, little, shallow" (from PIE root *mregh-u- "short").

Specifically of words by 1580s. Also sometimes 15c. abbrevy, from French abrevier (14c.), from Latin abbreviare. Related: Abbreviated; abbreviating.

also from mid-15c.
Origin and meaning of abbreviate
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Trends of abbreviate

updated on October 13, 2021

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Dictionary entries near abbreviate

abbe

abbess

abbey

abbot

abbr.

abbreviate

abbreviation

ABC

Abd

Abderian

abdicate