Abbreviate

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /əˈbɹiː.vi.eɪt/

Definitions

1. To shorten a word or phrase by removing letters or syllables while preserving its essential meaning
2. To condense a lengthy expression into a more manageable form that retains the original idea
3. To reduce a word or phrase to a shorter form while keeping its main meaning intact

Etymology: "Abbreviate" grew from a Latin verb built on "brevis," meaning "short." Latin "abbreviō" combined "ab-" with "breviō," and together they meant to shorten or cut back. The Latin verb's past participle, "abbreviatus," passed into Middle English, where it was first used as a participle and later turned into a verb of its own, "abbreviaten," before the modern form settled in. The English verb is a doublet of "abridge," the two words descending from the same Latin source by different routes. "Abridge" arrived through Old French and kept a more everyday, compact feel, while "abbreviate" came straight from Latin, which is why it sounds more formal and learned. Some etymologists also suggest the verb may have been back-formed from "abbreviation," the noun, so the verb and noun may have developed side by side rather than in strict sequence.

Synonyms: shorten, condense, compress, curtail, truncate

Antonyms: lengthen, expand, extend, enlarge