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Abridgement: meaning, definitions and examples

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abridgement

 

[ əˈbrɪdʒmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

written work

Abridgement is the act of shortening a written work or text while preserving its essential meaning and content. It is commonly used in literature and academic settings to create condensed versions of longer texts for easier consumption or study.

Synonyms

condensation, digest, reduction, summary

Examples of usage

  • The abridgement of the novel allowed students to read the essential parts within a week.
  • An abridgement of the original report made it more accessible to a general audience.
  • The librarian recommended an abridgement of the classic play for the school production.

Translations

Translations of the word "abridgement" in other languages:

🇵🇹 abreviatura

🇮🇳 संक्षेपण

🇩🇪 Abkürzung

🇮🇩 ringkasan

🇺🇦 скорочення

🇵🇱 skrócenie

🇯🇵 要約

🇫🇷 abrégé

🇪🇸 abreviatura

🇹🇷 kısaltma

🇰🇷 요약

🇸🇦 اختصار

🇨🇿 zkrácení

🇸🇰 skrátenie

🇨🇳 缩写

🇸🇮 skrajšava

🇮🇸 stytting

🇰🇿 қысқартылған

🇬🇪 შეკვეცა

🇦🇿 qısaltma

🇲🇽 abreviatura

Word origin

The term 'abridgement' has its origins in Middle English from the word 'abreggen,' which means to shorten. This, in turn, is derived from the Old French 'abregier,' which comes from the Latin 'ab breviāre,' meaning to shorten, with 'ab' indicating 'from' and 'breviāre' meaning 'to make brief.' The evolution of the word reflects its continued use in contexts involving the summarization and reduction of texts or information. The concept of abridgement has been important in literature and education, where brevity is often sought without sacrificing essential meaning. Over time, it has become a common literary technique, recognized for its utility in enhancing readability and accessibility.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,112, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.