Abridgment

Quick meaning: Abridgment is a noun meaning (US) The act of abridging; reduction or deprivation.

Meaning

(US) The act of abridging; reduction or deprivation.

More Meanings

1. (US) The state of being abridged or lessened.
2. (US) An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation.
3. (law) The leaving out of certain portions of a plaintiff's demand, the writ still holding good for the remainder.
4. (obsolete) That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that makes the time pass quickly
5. (dated, law) Any of various brief statements of case law made before modern reporting of legal cases.

Example Sentences

an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses

What abridgment have you for this evening? What masque? what music?

The article which embodied my researches having proved somewhat too long for its purpose, an abridgment of it only was inserted in the Encyclopædia.

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.

Word Forms

• abridgments
• abridgement

Synonyms for abridgment

Depending on context, synonyms include compendium, epitome, abstract, synopsis, diminution, lessening.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include abridgement, condensation, capsule, abatement, retrenchment, curtailment.

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