Hypertext Webster Gateway: "shorten"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Shorten \Short"en\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Shortened ?}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Shortening}.] [See {Short}, a.]
1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as,
to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of
calamity.
2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to
lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to
shorten work, an allowance of food, etc.
Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am
shortened by my chain. --Dryden.
3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of.
Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.
--Dryden.
4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard,
pot liquor, or the like.
{To shorten a rope} (Naut.), to take in the slack of it.
{To shorten sail} (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Shorten \Short"en\, v. i.
To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern
latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by
cold.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
shorten
v 1: make shorter than originally intended; reduce or retrench in
length or duration; "He shortened his trip due to
illness" [ant: {lengthen}]
2: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The
manuscript must be shortened" [syn: {abridge}, {foreshorten},
{abbreviate}, {cut}, {contract}, {reduce}]
3: make short or shorter; "shorten the skirt"; "shorten the
rope by a few inches"
4: become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten" [ant:
{lengthen}]
5: edit by omitting or modifying parts considered indelicate;
"bowdlerize a novel" [syn: {bowdlerize}, {bowdlerise}, {expurgate}]
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