Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Abridge \A*bridge"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Abridged}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Abridging}.] [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F.
   abr['e]ger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad + brevis short. See {Brief}
   and cf. {Abbreviate}.]
   1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to
      diminish; to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge
      power or rights. ``The bridegroom . . . abridged his
      visit.'' --Smollett.

            She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her
            train from state to necessity.        --Fuller.

   2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining
      the sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a
      history or dictionary.

   3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by
      from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

Source : WordNet®

abridge
     v : reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The
         manuscript must be shortened" [syn: {foreshorten}, {abbreviate},
          {shorten}, {cut}, {contract}, {reduce}] [ant: {elaborate}]