Abridgment

/əˈbɹɪd͡ʒ.mənt/ · noun

Meaning

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

Definitions by Sense

1. (US) The act of abridging; reduction or deprivation
2. (US) The state of being abridged or lessened.
3. (US) An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form; an abbreviation.
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.
6. (law) The leaving out of certain portions of a plaintiff's demand, the writ still holding good for the remainder.

Example Sentences

an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses

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.

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

Synonyms for abridgment

Antonyms for abridgment

Related Words

Word Forms

• abridgments
• abridgement

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions