A*bridge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Abridged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Abridging.] [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F.
abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis
short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate.] 1.
To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish; to
curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or
rights. "The bridegroom . . . abridged his visit."
Smollett.
She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her
train from state to necessity.
Fuller.
2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet
retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a
history or dictionary.
3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by
of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his
rights.