abridge

abridge · verb¹

1. Late Latin · derived fromabbreviō, abbreviāre“make brief”
2. Old French · derived fromabregier
3. Middle English · inherited fromabreggen
4. English todayabridge

From Middle English abreggen, abregge, abrigge (“curtail, lessen”), from Old French abregier, abreger, from Late Latin abbreviō, abbreviāre (“make brief”). Doublet of abbreviate.

Abridge · proper noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromAffebrigg
2. English todayAbridge

From Middle English Affebrigg, from Old English, from Æffa (personal name) + brycg (“bridge”). For the first element see Effingham.

First known use, by meaning

• First attested around 1150–1350 To deprive; to cut off.
• First attested around 1150–1350 To debar from.
• First attested around 1350–1470 To make shorter; to shorten in duration or extent.
• First attested in 1384 To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense.
• First attested around 1350–1470 Cut short; truncate.
• First attested around 1350–1470 To curtail.