abridgment

abridgment: abridgment, abstract, epitome, brief, synopsis, conspectus mean a condensation of a larger work or treatment, usually one already in circulation.

Abridgment implies reduction in compass with the retention of relative completeness

{
the current acting versions of many of Shakespeare’s plays are abridgments
}

{
an abridgment of a dictionary
}

Abstract implies condensation of a lengthy treatise or of a proposed lengthy treatment and stresses concentration of substance

{
abstracts of state papers
}

{
an abstract of a lecture
}

Epitome implies concentration of the essence or pith of something (as a long poem, essay, or treatise) into the briefest possible statement usually so as to acquire a value of its own

{
the Paternoster, Christ’s prayer, which is . . . [an] epitome . . . of all the psalms and prayers written in the whole scripture— Hooper
}

Both abstract and epitome are used also in extended senses in reference to persons or things, the former stressing one or other (of the persons or things referred to) as a summary, the latter as a type representing a whole

{
a man who is the abstract of all faults that all men follow— Shak.
}

{
a man so various that he seemed to be not one, but all mankind’s epitome— Dryden
}

Brief is usually narrowly applied in legal use to a concise statement of a client’s case made out for the instruction of counsel in a trial (called specifically trial brief) or to a statement of the heads or points of a legal argument submitted to the court (brief of argument).

Synopsis and conspectus imply the giving of the salient points of a treatise or subject so that it may be quickly comprehended. Synopsis, however, often suggests an outline or series of headings and conspectus a coherent account that gives a bird’s-eye view

{
provide in advance a synopsis of the lectures
}

{
the book will serve as a conspectus of Chinese history
}

Analogous words: digest, precis, *compendium, sketch, syllabus

Antonyms: expansion

Contrasted words: paraphrase (see TRANSLATION): *development

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Abridgment — A*bridg ment ( br[i^]j ment), n. [OE. abregement. See {Abridge}.] 1. The act of abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses. [1913 Webster] 2. An… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
abridgment — I (condensation) noun abbreviation, abbreviature, abstract, aperçu, brief, capsule, compendium, compression, consolidation, conspectus, contraction, curtailment, digest, epitome, epitomization, extract, précis, reduction, sketch, summary,… … Law dictionary
abridgment — or abridgement [ə brij′mənt] n. [ME abregement < OFr < abregier: see ABRIDGE] 1. an abridging or being abridged 2. a curtailment, as of rights 3. an abridged form, as of a book SYN. ABRIDGMENT describes a work condensed from a larger work… … English World dictionary
abridgment — /euh brij meuhnt/, n. 1. a shortened or condensed form of a book, speech, etc., that still retains the basic contents: an abridgment of Tolstoy s War and Peace. 2. the act or process of abridging. 3. the state of being abridged. 4. reduction or… … Universalium
abridgment — noun a) The act of abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution; lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures or of expenses. , Ancient coins as abridgments of history. b) An epitome or compend, as of a book; a… … Wiktionary
abridgment — I (Roget s IV) n. 1. [The act of reducing or shortening] Syn. shortening, reduction, cutting; see abbreviation 2 . 2. [A shortened form of a work] Syn. digest, condensation, compendium, summary, epitome, pr?cis, abstract, brief, synopsis, outline … English dictionary for students
abridgment — noun an abridgment of the full report Syn: summary, abstract, synopsis, précis, outline, résumé, sketch, compendium, digest … Thesaurus of popular words
abridgment — a•bridg•ment or a•bridge•ment [[t]əˈbrɪdʒ mənt[/t]] n. 1) a shortened or condensed form of a book, speech, etc., that still retains the basic contents 2) the act or process of abridging 3) the state of being abridged 4) reduction or curtailment:… … From formal English to slang
abridgment — Condensation; contraction. An epitome or compendium of another and larger work, wherein the principal ideas of the larger work are summarily contained. Abridgments of the law are brief digests of the law, arranged alphabetically. In this context … Black's law dictionary
abridgment — Condensation; contraction. An epitome or compendium of another and larger work, wherein the principal ideas of the larger work are summarily contained. Abridgments of the law are brief digests of the law, arranged alphabetically. In this context … Black's law dictionary

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abridgment

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