To abridge a book, a play, or a speech is to make it shorter on purpose, while trying to keep the main story and the main meaning. An editor might abridge a long novel so younger readers can finish it; a radio show might abridge a speech to fit the time.

To abridge a book, a play, or a speechabridge一本書、一齣戲、或一篇演講 is to make it shorter on purpose就是故意把它弄短 while trying to keep the main story and the main meaning同時試著保留主要的故事和主要的意思 An editor might abridge a long novel編輯可能會abridge一本長篇小說 so younger readers can finish it好讓比較小的讀者能讀完 a radio show might abridge a speech to fit the time廣播節目可能會abridge一篇演講以符合時間長度

The cut is not random: the bones stay, the extra flesh goes. It is a bookish, slightly formal verb.

The cut is not random這種刪減不是隨便亂剪 the bones stay骨架留下來 the extra flesh goes多餘的血肉去掉 It is a bookish, slightly formal verb這是個書面、稍微正式的動詞

In speech people more often say “shorten” or “cut down.” Though actually, abridging can still change how a book feels — even when the plot is there — because the small scenes that gave it its voice are often the first to go. And despite how it looks on the page, this word has nothing to do with a bridge over water.

In speech people more often say “shorten” or “cut down.”口語裡人們比較常說「shorten」或「cut down」 Though actually不過 abridging can still change how a book feelsabridge過的書還是可能會改變讀起來的感覺 even when the plot is there就算劇情還在 because the small scenes that gave it its voice are often the first to go因為給它聲音的那些小場景常常是最先被砍掉的 And despite how it looks on the page而且不管它字面上看起來怎樣 this word has nothing to do with a bridge over water這個字跟水上的橋一點關係都沒有