abridge
UK: əˈbrɪdʒ | US: əˈbrɪdʒ
vt. to shorten (a book, speech, etc.) while retaining the essential content
vt. (archaic) to deprive or curtail rights or freedoms
The word "abridge" traces back to Old French abregier (to shorten), derived from Latin abbreviare (to shorten, from ad- "to" + brevis "short"). The modern spelling reflects Middle English adaptation, where the prefix "a-" (from Latin ad-) merged with the root "bridge" (from brevis). The original sense of "reducing length" expanded metaphorically to "curtailing rights" in legal contexts.
The publisher asked the author to abridge the novel for a younger audience.
The film was abridged to fit a two-hour runtime.
(Archaic) The king’s decree abridged the nobles’ privileges.
Modern editors often abridge classic texts for readability.
The constitution prohibits laws that abridge freedom of speech.