Ab*bre"vi*ate (#), v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abbreviated (#); p.pr. & vb.n. Abbreviating.] [L. abbreviatus, p.p. of abbreviare; ad + breviare to shorten, fr. brevis short. See Abridge.] 1. To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction or omission, especially of words written or spoken.
It is one thing to abbreviate by contracting, another by cutting off. Bacon.
2. Math. To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
© Webster 1913.
Ab*bre"vi*ate (#), a. [L. abbreviatus, p.p.] 1. Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] "The abbreviate form."
Earle.
2. Biol. Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.
© Webster 1913.
Ab*bre"vi*ate, n. An abridgment. [Obs.]
Elyot.
© Webster 1913. | 
