Category:Shorten

Short"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shortened ; p. pr. & vb. n. Shortening.] Etym: [see short, a.]

1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to Shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.

2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; To abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an Allowance of food, etc. Here, where the subject is so fruitful, i am shortened by my chain. Dryden.

3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of. Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears. Dryden.

4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot Liquor, or the like. To shorten a rope (naut.), to take in the slack Of it. -- to shorten sail (naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in.

Shorten Short"en, v. i.

Defn: to become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern Latitudes from june to december; a metallic rod shortens by cold.