abridge, abrygge

t. [From Fr. a brevier, abbregier, abridgier, abrigier, and that from Lat. abbrevio ad in the direction of, and brevio = to shorten; brevis = short; Fr. abréger; Prov. & Sp. abreviar; Ital. abbreviare. Wedgwood shows that the Provençal has breu for brevis, breugetat for brevitas, in analogy with which the verb corresponding to abbreviare would be abbreujar, leading immediately to the Fr. abréger.] Gen.: 1. To curtail, to shorten in some way or other; or, le specifically, to diminish. as in no wise she could abridge his wo."Turberville: Tragical Tales (1587). "Besides, thy staying will abridge thy life." Shakesp. Two Gent. of Verona , ili. L. "Tyranny sends the chain that must abridge The noble sweep of all their privilege. Cowper : Table Talk . 2. To curtail the length of a book or other literary composition, either by re-writing it in shorter compa , or by omitting the le important pa ages. "Plutarch's life of Coriolanus is principally αbridged from the history of Dionysius, and the extant account in Appian's Roman history is derived from the same source."-Lewis: Credibility of the Early Roman History , chap. xii, 3. To deprive, to strip followed by the accusative of the person, and of referring to the thing lost. "That man should thus encroach on fellow-man, Abridge him of his just and native rights. Cowper: Task, bk. v. IMG:content-0044.png:[blocks in formation] "Nor do I now make moan to be abridg'd From such a noble rate." Shakesp.: Merch. of Venice, i. 1. 4. Alg .: To reduce a compound quantity or equation to a simpler form. Thus x-a + 2a may be abridged to x + a ; and 3-5-2x= +8-5 to x=8. a-bridged, pa. par. & a. [ABRIDGE.] "The following is an abridged scheme of his arrangements."-Owen: Mammal i a.