abridged; abridging
1
: to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense : condense
abridge a novel
an abridged dictionary
2
: to shorten in duration or extent
Tess wished to abridge her visit as much as possible …—
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy3
formal
: to reduce in scope : diminish
attempts to abridge the right of free speech
4
archaic
: deprive
abridger
noun
Synonyms
Examples of abridge in a Sentence
abridge a dictionary by omitting rare words
the library's hours have been drastically abridged to cut costs
Recent Examples on the Web
The First Amendment right against abridging the freedom of the press is no shield for lawbreaking, so Gonzalez has to establish whether Seligson was a participant in this offense or an observer.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024
Unlike the First Amendment—which prohibits abridging the freedom of speech—the Second Amendment bans infringing upon the right to bear arms, a very different construction.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
Responses have been edited for clarity and abridged.
—Christina Avery, The Arizona Republic, 10 July 2024
The First Amendment flatly prohibits the government from abridging the freedom of speech.
—Susan Shelley, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024
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New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Aug. 2024
Unlike the First Amendment—which prohibits abridging the freedom of speech—the Second Amendment bans infringing upon the right to bear arms, a very different construction.
—Saul Cornell / Made By History, TIME, 26 July 2024
Responses have been edited for clarity and abridged.
—Christina Avery, The Arizona Republic, 10 July 2024
The First Amendment flatly prohibits the government from abridging the freedom of speech.
—Susan Shelley, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for abridge
Dictionary Entries Near abridge
Cite this Entry
“Abridge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abridge. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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Etymology
Middle English abregen "deprive, reduce," from early French abreger (same meaning), from Latin abbreviare "to shorten" — related to abbreviate
Legal Definition
abridge
transitive verb
abridged; abridging
: to diminish or reduce in scope
no State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States—U.S. Constitution amend. XIV
U.S. Constitution amend. XIV
abridgment
noun
or abridgement
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