All 4 Uses of
abridge
in
The Canterbury Tales
- …love, Great was th' effect, and high was his intent; Well wist he why, and what thereof he meant: For with that faire chain of love he bond* *bound The fire, the air, the water, and the lond In certain bondes, that they may not flee:<91> That same prince and mover eke," quoth he, "Hath stablish'd, in this wretched world adown, Certain of dayes and duration To all that are engender'd in this place, Over the whiche day they may not pace*, *pass All may they yet their dayes well abridge.†
Chpt 1.1
- His friendes sent he to, at his instance, And prayed them to do him that pleasance, That hastily they would unto him come; He would abridge their labour all and some: Needed no more for them to go nor ride,<7> *He was appointed where he would abide.†
Chpt 4.10
- And, for he would his longe tale abridge,
Chpt 4.10 *abridge = shorten; or reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
- And when this old man weened [thought, intended] to enforce his tale by reasons, well-nigh all at once began they to rise for to break his tale, and bid him full oft his words abridge.†
Chpt 7.18
Definition:
-
(abridge) reduce in scope while retaining essential elements -- especially to a book