also 5–7 abreviate. [f. ABBREVIATE ppl. a.; or on the analogy of vbs. so formed; see -ATE. A direct representative of L. abbreviāre; as ABRIDGE, and the obs. ABREVY, represent it indirectly, through OFr. abregier and mid. Fr. abrévier. Like the latter, abbreviate, was often spelt a-breviate in 5–7.] To make shorter, shorten, cut short in any way.
1530. Palsgr., I abrevyate: I make a thynge shorte, Je abrege.
1625. Bacon, Essays, xxiv. 99 (1862). But it is one Thing to Abbreviate by Contracting, Another by Cutting off.
† 1. trans. To make a discourse shorter by omitting details and preserving the substance; to abridge, condense. Obs.
a. 1450. Chester Pl., I. 2 (Sh. Soc.). This matter he abbrevited into playes twenty-foure.
1592. Greene, Conny catching, III. 16. The queane abreuiated her discourse.
1637. Raleigh, Mahomet, 34. Abreviated out of two Arabique writers translated into Spanish.
1672. Manley, Interpreter, pref. I have omitted several Matters … contracted and abbreviated Others.
† b. To make an abstract or brief of, to epitomize. Obs.
c. 1450. Trevisa, Higden’s Polychr., I. 21 (Rolls Ser.). Trogus Pompeius, in hys xlii iiij. bookes, allemoste of alle the storyes of the worlde, whom Iustinus his disciple did abbreuiate.
1603. Florio, Montaigne (1634), 627. To reade, to note, and to abbreviate Polibius.
1648–9. The Kingdomes Weekly Intelligencer, Jan., 16 to 23. The high court of Justice did this day sit again concerning the triall of the King. The charge was brought in and abreviated.
† c. Math. To reduce (a fraction) to lower terms. Obs.
1796. Mathem. Dict., I. 2. To abbreviate fractions in arithmetic and algebra, is to lessen proportionally their terms, or the numerator and denominator.
† 2. intr. To speak or write briefly, to be brief. Obs.
1597. Warner, Albion’s Eng., XII. lxxiv. 302. But new Rome left, of old Rome now abreuiat we will.
1622. Malynes, Anc. Law-Merch., 233. To abbreuiate, I do referre the desirous Reader hereof to Master Hill his booke of Husbandrie.
3. trans. To shorten by cutting off a part; to cut short. a. Of time. arch.
1529. Whitinton, Vulgaria, 56. Ryot … abbreviateth and shorteneth many a mannes lyfe.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. 3. xv. 130 (1651). That adventure themselves and abbreviate their lives for the publike good.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 300. Against this we might very well set the length of their lives before the floud, which were abbreviated after.
b. Of any operation occupying time.
1494. Fabyan, VII. 333. If it sounde any thynge to theyr dishonoure, than shall it be abreuyatyd or hyd that the trouthe shall not be known.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. ix. 116. King Ethelbert was at his Devotions, which he would not omit, nor abbreviate for all their Clamour.
1865. E. B. Tylor, Early Hist. Man., iii. 48. The ancient Egyptian may be seen in the sculptures abbreviating the gesture.
c. Of things material; mostly fig. arch.
1552. Latimer, Serm. for 3rd Sund in Adv., Wks. II. 287. His hand is not abbreuiated, or his power diminished.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Boock of Physicke, 178/2. Abbreviate as then the bagge, because it may gentlelye, & easilye exulcerate.
1661. Milton, Accedence (Wks. 1738), I. 607. The long way is much abbreviated, and the labour of understanding much more easy.
d. Of words spoken or written, or symbols of any kind: To contract, so that a part stands for the whole. The common mod. use.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., V. i. 26. He clepeth a Calf, Caufe: Halfe, Haufe, neighbour vocatur nebour; neigh abreuiated ne: this is abhominable.
1724. De Foe, etc., A Tour, I. 364 (1769). The Exancester of the Saxons, which was afterwards abbreviated to Excester and Exeter.
1880. Geikie, Phys. Geog., I. iv. 27. Paris is situated two degrees, twenty minutes, and nine seconds east from Greenwich, which is abbreviated thus: 2° 20′ 9″ E.
e. Of sounds: To make (a vowel or syllable) short.
1699. Bentley, Phalaris, 136. The Dorians abbreviate even as in the Accusative Plural.
1727. Swift, Lett. on Eng. Tongue, Wks. 1755, II. I. 188. That barbarous custom of abbreviating words to fit them to the measure of their verses.
