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Abbreviate vs Lessen - What's the difference?

abbreviate | lessen |

In transitive terms the difference between abbreviate and lessen

is that abbreviate is to reduce a word or phrase by means of contraction or omission to a shorter recognizable form while lessen is to make less; to diminish; to reduce.

As verbs the difference between abbreviate and lessen

is that abbreviate is to shorten by omitting parts or details while lessen is to make less; to diminish; to reduce.

As an adjective abbreviate

is abbreviated; abridged; shortened.

As a noun abbreviate

is an abridgment.

abbreviate

English

Etymology 1

* Either' from (etyl) abbreviaten, from (etyl) . * See abridge.

Verb

(abbreviat)
  • (obsolete) To shorten by omitting parts or details.
  • * (rfdate) :
    • It is one thing to abbreviate by contracting, another by cutting off.
  • (obsolete) To speak or write in a brief manner.
  • To make shorter; to shorten; to abridge; to shorten by ending sooner than planned.
  • To reduce a word or phrase by means of contraction or omission to a shorter recognizable form.
  • (mathematics) To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
    • Synonyms
    * shorten
    Antonyms
    * lengthen
    Related terms
    * abbreviation * abbreviator

    Etymology 2

    * From .

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Abbreviated; abridged; shortened.
  • *
  • (biology) Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the ordinary type.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) An abridgment.

    • References

    ----

    lessen

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
  • * Calamy
    • Charity shall lessen his punishment.
  • * Atterbury
    • St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 16 , author=Denis Campbell , title=Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients' , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Many hospitals have not taken simple steps to lessen the distress and confusion which dementia sufferers' often feel on being somewhere so unfamiliar – such as making signs large and easy to read, using colour schemes to help patients find their way around unfamiliar wards and not putting family mementoes such as photographs nearby.}}
  • To become less.

    • Anagrams

    * * English ergative verbs ----