Which definition best matches the word abridge?

• A. To condense
• B. To make something shorter while keeping the same meaning
• C. To reduce
• D. To shorten a document

Answer: (B)

Abridging a text means shortening it while preserving its original meaning. The key idea is to reduce length without changing what the text says. So, the definition that says making something shorter while keeping the same meaning best expresses this balance between brevity and fidelity, which is exactly what abridging involves. Condensing is related but doesn’t explicitly state that the meaning is preserved. Reducing is too vague, and shortening a document emphasizes length without guaranteeing that the original message remains intact.