Word: abridge (verb)

Associations

The word "abridge" means to shorten something, usually a text, speech, or piece of writing, without losing the main idea or important points.

• Abridged books: Sometimes long books are made shorter for easier reading, especially for students.
• Abridged version of a movie: A movie can be shortened by cutting some scenes but keeping the main story.
• Abridging a speech: A long speech can be shortened to save time but still deliver the key messages.

A well-known synonym is "shorten." The difference is that "abridge" is often used for formal texts or speeches and suggests careful cutting, while "shorten" is more general and can be used for anything.

Substitution

Instead of "abridge," you can say:

• shorten – more general, less formal.
• condense – means to make something shorter but also clearer or more compact.
• truncate – means to cut off part of something, often abruptly. Using "condense" might suggest making the text clearer, while "truncate" might suggest cutting off important parts.

Deconstruction

The word "abridge" comes from the prefix "a-" (meaning "to" or "towards") and the root "bridge," which originally meant a short passage or a connection. So "abridge" means to make something like a "bridge" shorter or to bring it closer by cutting unnecessary parts.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you had to shorten a long text or story? How did you decide what to keep?
• How is abridging a book different from summarizing it?
• Why do you think people create abridged versions of books or movies?