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“abbreviate”
abbreviate (uh BREE vee ayt") (verb), abbreviates; abbreviated; abbreviating
1. You can abbreviate (cut short) the word "Mister" into "Mr."
2. As time was short, he abbreviated (shortened) his visit.
2. As time was short, he abbreviated (shortened) his visit.
The brev- in "abbreviate comes from the Latin brevis, meaning short, which is also the source of "brief". So, naturally, abbreviate means to make briefer, to make shorter by combining or omitting; including "dozen" as "doz." and "quart" as "qt."
This entry is located in the following unit:
English Words in Action, Group A +
(page 1)
Word Entries at Word Info:
“abbreviate”
abbreviate (verb), abbreviates; abbreviated; abbreviating
1. To shorten a word by leaving out some of its letters or sounds: "The speaker abbreviated his lecture so the audience could go home before the thunder storm arrived."
2. To shorten a piece of text by cutting out sections or paraphrasing it; that is, abridged, shortened, or cut short: "The -brev- in abbreviate, abbreviates, etc. came from Latin brevis, meaning "short", which is also the source of the word brief; therefore, abbreviate means "to make briefer, to make shorter" by combining or omitting elements of the contents of a verbal or a written message."
2. To shorten a piece of text by cutting out sections or paraphrasing it; that is, abridged, shortened, or cut short: "The -brev- in abbreviate, abbreviates, etc. came from Latin brevis, meaning "short", which is also the source of the word brief; therefore, abbreviate means "to make briefer, to make shorter" by combining or omitting elements of the contents of a verbal or a written message."
This entry is located in the following units:
a-, ab-, abs-
(page 3)
-ate (to do)
(page 1)
brevi-, brev- [brie-, bri-] +
(page 1)