Definition and Etymology of Abbreviate

1. Definition

What is, concept or meaning

v. (abbreviating) To abbreviate something means to shorten it, particularly by representing a word or phrase with a shorter form. This can be done in a number of ways, such as by using initials or by using a shortened form of a word. Abbreviating a word or phrase can make it easier to read or write, and can save time and space. For example, the word “international” can be abbreviated as “intl.” or “inter.”

2. Etymology of abbreviate

The word “abbreviate” comes from the Latin word “abbreviare,” which means “to shorten.” The Latin word “abbreviare” is derived from the prefix “ab-” and the root “brevi,” which means “short.” The word “abbreviate” has been used in English since the 15th century to refer to the act of shortening a word or phrase.

In Latin, the word “brevi” is related to the word “brevis,” which means “short.” The prefix “ab-” is a Latin preposition that means “away from” or “off.” When combined, the prefix “ab-” and the root “brevi” literally mean “to shorten by taking away from.” The word “abbreviare” is the infinitive form of the verb, which means that it is the base form of the verb and is used to indicate the purpose or goal of an action.

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