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shorten |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Shorten \Short"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shortened ?}; p. pr & vb n. {Shortening}.] [See {Short}, a.] 1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity. 2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as to shorten work an allowance of food, etc Here where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. --Dryden. 3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears. --Dryden. 4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like {To shorten a rope} (Naut.), to take in the slack of it {To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Shorten \Short"en\, v. i. To become short or shorter; as the day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by cold. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: shorten v 1: make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to illness" [ant: {lengthen}] 2: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" [syn: {abridge}, {foreshorten}, {abbreviate}, {cut}, {contract}, {reduce}] 3: make short or shorter; "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the rope by a few inches" 4: become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten" [ant: {lengthen}] 5: edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate; "bowdlerize a novel" [syn: {bowdlerize}, {bowdlerise}, {expurgate}]
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