1 definition found From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]: Abridge \A*bridge"\, verb (used with an object) [imp. & p. p. {Abridged}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Abridging}.] [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abr['e]ger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See {Brief} and cf. {Abbreviate}.] 1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. ''The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit.'' --Smollett. She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to necessity. --Fuller. 2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or dictionary. 3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM.