[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/shorten/)

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# shorten

verb (shorten, shortens, shortened, shortening)

«shorten» 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. To shorten something is to make it shorter in length, like shortening trousers or a rope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#m1)
2. To shorten something is to make it last less time, like shortening a lesson. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#m2)
3. To shorten a word or name is to make it smaller, like «Benjamin» shortened to «Ben». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#m3)

### In the lessons

In writing lessons, pupils shorten long sentences to make them clearer and learn that «info» is a shortened form of «information». In maths, shortening a length means subtracting from it. In everyday life, days shorten in autumn and a tailor shortens clothes.

### Examples

- Mum shortened my trousers because they were too long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x1)
- The rain shortened our game by ten minutes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x2)
- Can you shorten this sentence? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x3)
- «Elizabeth» is often shortened to «Liz». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x4)
- The days shorten as winter comes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x5)
- If you shorten a 50 cm ribbon by 15 cm, it is 35 cm long. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x6)
- We shortened the rope so the swing was higher. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x7)
- And as they went to lay the foundation-stone, Gobborn Seer said to Jack, "Can't you shorten the way for me?" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/shorten/#x8)

### Note

Regular verb: past «shortened». It is short + -en, meaning «make shorter». In maths, «shorten by» means subtract that amount; «shorten to» gives the new length. Opposite: «lengthen». «Shortening» is also a cooking fat used in baking (a noun).

## In Jewish tradition

Means to make less or weaker. "God's hand is shortened" means His power to save is limited, and shortened days mean a life cut short.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads Isaiah's question as God's answer that He is not unable to redeem, so exile came from sin and not from weakness.

### Examples

- Is My hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? (Prophets ISA.50.2, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/shorten/#x1)
- He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days. (Writings PSA.102.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/shorten/#x2)
- The days of his youth hast Thou shortened; Thou hast covered him with shame. (Writings PSA.89.46, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/shorten/#x3)

### Note

Regular verb: past «shortened». It is short + -en, meaning «make shorter». In maths, «shorten by» means subtract that amount; «shorten to» gives the new length. Opposite: «lengthen». «Shortening» is also a cooking fat used in baking (a noun).

## On Mova

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