- OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate
- To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights.The bridegroom . . .abridgedhis visit.She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity.
- To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary.
- To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.
