Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Abridgment
1.
The act of abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation;
as, an
. abridgment
of pleasures or of expenses2.
An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form, esp. of a written work; an abbreviation.
Ancient coins as
abridgments
of history. Addison.
3.
That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly.
[Obs.]
What
abridgment
have you for this evening? What mask? What music? Shakespeare
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Abridgment
ABRIDG'MENT
,Noun.
1.
An epitome; a compend, or summary of a book.2.
Diminution; contraction; reduction - as an abridgment of expenses.3.
Deprivation; a debarring or restraint - as an abridgment of pleasures.Definition 2024
abridgment
abridgment
English
Alternative forms
Noun
abridgment (plural abridgments)
- (US) The act of abridging; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).][2]
- (US) The state of being abridged or lessened.
- (US) An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation. [First attested from around (1350 to 1470).][2]
- 2012 March 22, Scott Tobias, “The Hunger Games”, in AV Club:
- When the goal is simply to be as faithful as possible to the material—as if a movie were a marriage, and a rights contract the vow—the best result is a skillful abridgment, one that hits all the important marks without losing anything egregious.
-
- (obsolete) That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly
- 1605, Shakespeare, Midsummer Night's Dream, V-i:
- What abridgment have you for this evening? What masque? what music?
-
- (dated, law) Any of various brief statements of case law made before modern reporting of legal cases.
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
Translations
act of abridging
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state of being abridged
shortened version
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obsolete: that which abridges or cuts short
brief statement of case law