To shorten a piece of writing, speech, or text while keeping its main ideas.
From Old French *abregier* “to shorten,” from Latin *abbreviare* with the same meaning. Over time the spelling shifted in English, but it shares roots with *abbreviate*.
When you read an ‘abridged’ version of a novel, you’re seeing a carefully trimmed version, not just random cuts. It’s like a highlight reel of a book, reminding you that shorter doesn’t always mean simpler—someone decided what mattered most.
‘Abridge’ appears in legal and political language about rights being limited or denied, including women’s rights to vote, own property, or access education. Historically, laws explicitly abridged rights on the basis of sex and gender.
When discussing abridgment of rights, name the affected groups explicitly and avoid implying that loss of rights is gender‑neutral when it is not.
["shorten","condense","curtail","limit"]
In constitutional or legal contexts, recognize women’s efforts to resist the abridgment of their civil and political rights.
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