Abbr

/ˌeɪ.biːˈbiːɑːr/ noun

Definition

A written abbreviation of the word 'abbreviation,' used in style guides and editing to show where something has been shortened.

Etymology

Modern abbreviation of 'abbreviation' itself, created through the standard process of dropping letters while keeping recognizable letters. It's recursive—the abbreviation of 'abbreviation' is itself an abbreviation.

Kelly Says

This word perfectly captures internet-age language: 'abbr' is short for 'abbreviation,' which means we abbreviated the word that literally means 'to make shorter'—it's abbreviation being abbreviated.

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