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abbreviator

 - 2 dictionary results

ab⋅bre⋅vi⋅ate

  [uh-bree-vee-eyt] verb, -at⋅ed, -at⋅ing.
Use abbreviator in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to shorten (a word or phrase) by omitting letters, substituting shorter forms, etc., so that the shortened form can represent the whole word or phrase, as ft. for foot, ab. for about, R.I. for Rhode Island, NW for Northwest, or Xn for Christian.
2. to reduce (anything) in length, duration, etc.; make briefer: to abbreviate a speech.
–verb (used without object)
3. to use abbreviations.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME abbreviaten < LL abbreviātus shortened (ptp. of abbreviāre), equiv. to L ad- ad- + breviātus (brevi(s) short + -ātus -ate 1 )

Related forms:
ab⋅bre⋅vi⋅a⋅tor, noun

Synonyms:
See shorten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To abbreviator
ab·bre·vi·ate   (ə-brē'vē-āt')   
tr.v.   ab·bre·vi·at·ed, ab·bre·vi·at·ing, ab·bre·vi·ates

  1. To make shorter. See Synonyms at shorten.

  2. To reduce (a word or phrase) to a shorter form intended to represent the full form.


[Middle English abbreviaten, from Late Latin abbreviāre, abbreviāt- : ad-, ad- + breviāre, to shorten (from brevis, short; see mregh-u- in Indo-European roots).]
ab·bre'vi·a'tor n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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