1. (

• abridge ,
• foreshorten ,
• abbreviate ,
• shorten ,
• cut ,
• contract ,
• reduce ,

) reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened" ;

2. (

• abridge ,

) lessen, diminish, or curtail; "the new law might abridge our freedom of expression" ;

1. (

• abridged

) (used of texts) shortened by condensing or rewriting; "an abridged version" ;