Advertisement
abridge (v.)
c. 1300, abreggen, "make shorter, shorten, condense," from Old French abregier, abrigier "abridge, diminish, shorten" (12c., Modern French abréger), from Late Latin abbreviare "make short," from Latin ad "to" (see ad-) + breviare "shorten," from brevis "short, low, little, shallow" (from PIE root *mregh-u- "short").
Abbreviate is the same word directly from Latin. The sound development that turned Latin -vi- to French -dg- is paralleled in assuage (from assuavidare) and deluge (from diluvium). Of writing, "shorten by omission," late 14c. Related: Abridged; abridging.
also from c. 1300
Advertisement
Trends of abridge
updated on October 13, 2021
Advertisement
Remove ads >
AdvertisementDictionary entries near abridge
Abraham
abrasion
abrasive
abraxas
abreast
abridge
abridgement
abroad
abrogate
abrogation
abrupt