Abridgements

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A reduction in the length of a text that maintains its essential ideas and structure
2. the act of condensing a work, often used in reference to literary or informational material
3. a shorter version of a publication that encapsulates the main content without extensive detail

Etymology: "Abridgements" is the plural of "abridgement," a noun formed from the verb "abridge." That verb came into English in the late 14th century, borrowed from Anglo-French "abregier," which traces back through Late Latin "abbreviare" ("to shorten"), itself built from Latin "brevis" ("short"). The same Latin root gives English "brief" and "abbreviate," so the family of words is essentially one idea of shortness shared in different forms. The noun "abridgement" was formed in English by adding the suffix "-ment" to the verb, a common pattern for turning an action into a thing. The spelling "abridgment" is also in use, and both forms have been standard for centuries, with the shorter form favoured in American usage.

Synonyms: summaries, condensations, reductions

Antonyms: expansions, elaborations