Abridger

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /əˈbɹɪ.d͡ʒɚ/

Definitions

1. A professional who reduces the length of written content while preserving its core meaning
2. An individual that creates a shorter version of texts by emphasizing key points and removing excess detail
3. A person who produces condensed versions of written material by eliminating unnecessary parts while keeping essential ideas intact

Etymology: The word is about as plain as English suffixes get: "abridger" is "abridge" plus the agent suffix "-er", meaning one who performs the action. The verb "abridge" came into English from Old French "abregier", which descends from Late Latin "abbreviare", "to shorten", so an abridger is literally one who shortens. The suffix itself has a long pedigree, traceable back through Old English and Old French to Latin "-arius", a marker of person or occupation. Because the suffix is so productive, "-er" attaches easily to verbs of any origin, and the resulting nouns are usually transparent. The meaning here follows directly from the verb: someone who condenses a text by keeping its essential points and dropping surplus detail.

Synonyms: shortener, condensator, editor, curtailer, reducer

Antonyms: expander, elaborator, enlarger, extender, prolonger