Shorten vs Overshorten - What's the difference?

In lang=en terms the difference between shorten and overshorten

is that shorten is to reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen while overshorten is to shorten too much; make excessively or inappropriately short.

As verbs the difference between shorten and overshorten

is that shorten is to make shorter; to abbreviate while overshorten is to shorten too much; make excessively or inappropriately short.

shorten

English

Verb

(en verb)

To make shorter; to abbreviate.

* 1877 , (Anna Sewell), (Black Beauty) Chapter 22[http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Black_Beauty/22]

York came round to our heads and shortened the rein himself, one hole I think; every little makes a difference, be it for better or worse, and that day we had a steep hill to go up.

To become shorter.

To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of).

* Dryden

Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears.

To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc.

To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen.

to shorten an allowance of food

* Dryden

Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain.

(nautical) To take in the slack of (a rope).

(nautical) To reduce (sail) by taking it in.

Synonyms

* See also .

Antonyms

* lengthen

Anagrams

* * English ergative verbs

overshorten

English

Verb

(en verb)

To shorten too much; make excessively or inappropriately short.

* 1936 , Harold Vincent Marrot (editor), The Life and Letters of John Galsworthy , page 696 (second, revised edition; Heinemann)

This plant has only a certain capacity for daylight, and to overshorten the nights would injure it.