abridge

/əˈbrɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈbrɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈbrij/ (ame, mw)

abridge — verb

  • abridgepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • abridgeshe / she / it
  • abridgedpast simple
  • abridging-ing form

1. to create a shortened version of a book, article, or play by cutting out materia

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to create a shortened version of a book, article, or play by cutting out material that is not essential, so that the main content and meaning are preserved.

例句

The publisher asked Yuki to abridge the novel for young readers.

abridge + noun phrase (novel / book / text)

Kwame listened to the abridged version of the classic story on his way to work.

passive adjective: abridged version

同義詞
  • condense

    suggests making the text denser rather than simply shorter; often implies preserving all key ideas

  • shorten

    more general; can apply to any length reduction, not only written works

  • cut

    informal and direct; implies removing parts, often with a stronger sense of loss

反義詞
  • expand

    to make longer by adding material

  • lengthen

    to increase in length without necessarily adding content

文法句型

abridge + noun phrase (book / article / play / text)

be abridged (passive construction)

用法筆記

The past-participle adjective form ('abridged edition', 'abridged version') appears far more often than the bare verb in everyday language. The verb itself is relatively uncommon in ordinary conversation.

常見錯誤

❌She abridged the dress to make it shorter.
✅She shortened the dress to make it fit better.
💡'abridge' is used for texts, not physical objects.
❌The editor abridged the book by adding new chapters.
✅The editor abridged the book by removing several chapters.
💡abridging means cutting material out, not adding.

2. to limit or reduce a person's legal rights or freedoms, typically through a form

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to limit or reduce a person's legal rights or freedoms, typically through a formal rule, law, or official decision.

例句

The new law would abridge the right of citizens to gather and protest peacefully.

abridge + right of [people] to [do something]

No government may abridge the freedom of the press without a strong legal reason.

同義詞
  • curtail

    slightly more general; can apply to any activity or resource, not just legal rights

  • restrict

    commoner and less formal; implies setting limits or boundaries

  • diminish

    focuses on making something smaller or less important

反義詞
  • expand

    to make rights or freedoms greater in scope

  • extend

    to grant additional rights or freedoms

文法句型

abridge + noun phrase (rights / freedoms / powers)

be abridged (passive, in legal contexts)

用法筆記

Almost entirely restricted to formal and legal writing. In everyday conversation, 'limit' or 'restrict' is far more common. The passive construction ('rights shall not be abridged') is especially frequent in legal documents and constitutional texts.

常見錯誤

❌The school abridged the students' lunch time.
✅The school reduced the students' lunch time.
💡'abridge' is too formal for everyday reductions and is normally limited to legal rights or freedoms.