Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Shorten
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.
Short′en
,Verb.
I.
To become short or shorter;
as, the day
shortens
in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens
by cold.Webster 1828 Edition
Shorten
SHORTEN
,Verb.
T.
1. To make short in measure, extent or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity.
2. To abridge; to lessen; as, to shorten labor or work.
3. To curtail; as, to shorten the hair by clipping.
4. To cintract; to lessen; to diminish in extent or amount; as, to shorten sail; to shorten an allowance of provisions.
5. To confine; to restrain.
Here where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. Dryden.
6. To lop; to deprive.
The youth-shortened of his ears. Dryden.
SHORTEN
,Verb.
I.
1. To become short or shorter. The day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December.
2. To contract; as, a cord shortens by being wet; a metallic rod shortens by cold.