shorten
See also: Shorten
English
Etymology
From Middle English shortnen, schortenen, equivalent to short + -en (verbal suffix). In some senses, a continuation (in altered form) of Middle English schorten (“to make short, shorten”), from Old English sċortian (“to become short”), from Proto-Germanic *skurtōną (“to shorten”).
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈʃɔːtən/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈʃɔɹtən/
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)tən
Verb
shorten (third-person singular simple present shortens, present participle shortening, simple past and past participle shortened)
- (transitive) To make shorter; to abbreviate.
- 1877, Anna Sewell, “Chapter 22”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], OCLC 228733457:
- York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up.
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- (intransitive) To become shorter.
- (transitive) To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).
- 1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], OCLC 403869432:
- Spoiled of his nose, and shorten'd of his ears.
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- (transitive) To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
- (transitive) To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.
- to shorten an allowance of food
- 1699, John Dryden, Dedication to His Grace the Duke of Ormond
- Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain.
- 1858, George Borrow, The Romany Rye (volume 2, page 128)
- My grandfather, as I said before, was connected with a gang of shorters, and sometimes shortened money, […]
- (nautical, transitive) To take in the slack of (a rope).
- (nautical, transitive) To reduce (sail) by taking it in.
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:shorten
Antonyms
- extend
- lengthen
Translations
to make shorter
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to become shorter
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Anagrams
- Herston, Hornets, Rhotens, Thorens, Thorsen, enhorts, hornets, snoreth, thrones