shorten

Meaning

Verb

• To make shorter; to abbreviate.
• To become shorter.
• To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).
• To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.
• To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.
• To take in the slack of (a rope).
• To reduce (sail) by taking it in.

Related

Opposite words

• extend
• lengthen

Origin

• From Middle English shortnen, schortenen, equivalent to short + -en. In some senses, a continuation (in altered form) of Middle English schorten, from Old English sċortian, from Proto-Germanic *skurtōną.