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# short

adjective, adverb (short, shorter, shortest)

«short» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Short means not long: a short pencil, a short story. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m1)
2. Short means not tall: a short person. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m2)
3. Short means lasting a little time: a short break. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m3)
4. Short of something means not having enough of it: $4 short. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m4)
5. «Short for» means a shorter form of a name: Tom is short for Thomas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m5)
6. Shorts are short trousers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#m6)

### In the lessons

Maths: a comparison of length, height or time; «shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more. Everyday: a short walk, short hair, in short (to sum up), run short of milk, cut short. Spelling: a short vowel.

### Examples

- Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x1)
- She is $4 short of the price. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x2)
- Which ribbon is the shortest? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x3)
- A short break lasts 10 minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x4)
- The days are short in winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x5)
- Liz is short for Elizabeth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x6)
- We ran short of glue, so we used tape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x7)
- He wears shorts in summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x8)
- They only stayed a short time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/#x9)

### Note

Comparative shorter, superlative shortest. «Shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more (price − money). Trap: «Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann» — to find Ann's height you add. Opposites: long (for length and time), tall (for height).

## In Jewish tradition

In Job and the Psalms, short describes things that do not last: the light in darkness, the triumph of the wicked, and a person's time on earth. A man's short life is set against God's endless power.

**Interpretation.** The tradition answers that God's power is never limited, and the question shows Moses' doubt. It reads the verses on short time as a reminder that human life is brief and that the wicked do not last.

### Examples

- And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not.' (Torah NUM.11.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x1)
- Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing too long or too short, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. (Torah LEV.22.23, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x2)
- For convenience of study I have placed the Notes in a separate form at the end of the work, and I have made a short definition of the subject-matter of each chapter. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x3)
- They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness. (Writings JOB.17.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x4)
- That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? (Writings JOB.20.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x5)
- O remember how short my time is; for what vanity hast Thou created all the children of men! (Writings PSA.89.48, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/#x6)

### Note

Comparative shorter, superlative shortest. «Shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more (price − money). Trap: «Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann» — to find Ann's height you add. Opposites: long (for length and time), tall (for height).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «short» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/short/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«short» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/short.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «short» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/short/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«short» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/short.html) on Mova free.