[short.en] vb short.ened ; short.en.ing vt (14c) 1 a: to reduce the length or duration of b: to cause to seem short
2. a: to reduce in power or efficiency "is my hand ~ed, that it cannot redeem --Isa 50:2 (RSV)" b obs: to deprive of effect
3: to add fat to (as pastry dough) in order to make tender and flaky ~ vi: to become short or shorter -- short.en.er n syn shorten, curtail, abbreviate, abridge, retrench mean to reduce in extent. shorten implies reduction in length or duration "shorten a speech". curtail adds an implication of cutting that in some way deprives of completeness or adequacy "ceremonies curtailed because of rain". abbreviate implies a making shorter usu. by omitting some part "using an abbreviated title". abridge implies a reduction in compass or scope with retention of essential elements and a relative completeness in the result "the abridged version of the novel". retrench suggests a reduction in extent or costs of something felt to be excessive "declining business forced the company to retrench".