abbreviate

abbreviate · verb¹

1. Latin · derived fromabbreviātus
2. Middle English · inherited fromabbreviaten
3. English todayabbreviate

From Middle English abbreviaten, from abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the participle of abbreviaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), borrowed from Latin abbreviātus, perfect passive participle of abbreviō (“to shorten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), formed from ab- + breviō (“to shorten”), from brevis (“short”). Alternatively, a back-formation from abbreviation. Doublet of abridge.

abbreviate · adjective, noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromabbreviat(e)“abbreviated”
2. English todayabbreviate

From Middle English abbreviat(e) (“abbreviated”, used as the past participle of abbreviaten); the noun is derived by subtsantivization from the adjective. See -ate (adjective forming suffix), -ate (noun forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more. Participial usage up until Early Modern English.

First known use, by meaning

• Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17ᵗʰ century. To shorten by omitting parts or details.
• Attested from the late 16ᵗʰ century until the early 17ᵗʰ century. To speak or write in a brief manner.
• First attested from around (1350 to 1470). To make shorter; to shorten (in time); to abridge; to shorten by ending sooner than planned.
• First attested in the late 16ᵗʰ century. To reduce a word or phrase by means of contraction or omission to a shorter recognizable form.
• Attested from around (1350 to 1470) until the late 17ᵗʰ century Abbreviated, abridged, shortened.
• First attested in the mid 19ᵗʰ century. Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.
• Mid 16ᵗʰ century. An abridgment.