c. 1300, abreggen, "make shorter, shorten, condense," from Old French abregier, abrigier "abridge, diminish, shorten" (12c., Modern French abréger), from Late Latin abbreviare &quo [..]

to shorten or reduce.

v. To make shorter in words, keeping the essential features, leaning out minor particles.

To shorten; in a legal sense, to cut short or limit.

abridged abridg·ing : to diminish or reduce in scope [no State shall make or enforce any law which shall the privileges and immunities of the citizens of the United States "U.S. Constitution ...

In a generic sense the term “abridge” means to cut short. For example, to make an abridged copy of a book means to reduce the number of words in a book without affecting the quality or substance of th [..]

(v) reduce in scope while retaining essential elements(v) lessen, diminish, or curtail

(transitive,archaic) To deprive; to cut off.Usually used with to or sometimes with from as, to abridge one of his rights.