Abridge

Abridge

Definition

When we talk about abridge, we’re referring to the act of shortening or condensing something, such as a book, play, or text, while retaining its core content and meaning. Abridging is like creating a more concise version of a longer work without losing its essential ideas or message.

Abridging is commonly done to make complex or lengthy works more accessible to a wider audience. In the world of theater, plays are sometimes abridged to fit within time constraints or to cater to specific audiences. Abridging a play may involve cutting certain scenes or dialogues while ensuring that the overall storyline and character development remain intact.

When it comes to academic texts or research papers, summaries or abstracts can be seen as a form of abridgment. These concise versions provide a snapshot of the main points and findings without having to read the entire document.

Example sentences
The editor had to abridge the novel to fit it into a shorter publication format.
The teacher asked the students to abridge the lengthy essay into a concise summary.
The film director chose to abridge certain scenes to keep the movie within a reasonable runtime.
The speaker had to abridge his speech due to time constraints at the conference.
The travel guide abridged the detailed itinerary into a one-page summary for tourists.