abridge

/əˈbrɪdʒ/

/əˈbrɪdʒ/

Other forms: abridged; abridging; abridges

So the editor wants to cut your epic 800-page history of the stapler to a 150-page summary instead. Don't cry — he just wants to abridge your masterpiece, trimming it down to the more readable essential elements.

Synonymous with abbreviate, condense and cut short, abridge comes from the Latin word abreviare, which means "to shorten." Although it's usually used in reference to wordy texts, one can also abridge or shorten a piece of clothing; a miniskirt is just an abridged version of the old floor length hoop skirt, for example. But abridging something isn't always good: If your civil rights are abridged, they've been lessened in some way.

Definitions of abridge

1. verb

   lessen, diminish, or curtail
   “the new law might abridge our freedom of expression”

   type of:

   curb, curtail, cut back, restrict

   place restrictions on
2. verb

   reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   synonyms: abbreviate, contract, cut, foreshorten, reduce, shorten

   cut, edit, edit out

   cut and assemble the components of

   types:

   bowdlerise, bowdlerize, castrate, expurgate, shorten

   edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate

   concentrate, condense, digest

   make more concise

   capsule, capsulise, capsulize, encapsulate

   put in a short or concise form; reduce in volume

   telescope

   make smaller or shorter

   type of:

   decrease, lessen, minify

   make smaller