English → Latin
“shorten” in Latin
curtōto shorten, cut short, abbreviatecontrahōto draw in, bring or drag several objects together; collect, assemble, gather, amass; to bring about, accomplish, executamputōto prune, cut off, lop off; to curtail, shortenimmineōto project, bend or lean toward or over, overhang; to touch on, border upon; to threaten, menacenotōto mark, make a mark; to write, especially in shorthand; to write remarks or notesōrātiōspeech, discourse, language; the power of speech; manner or style of speakingcommentāriusmemorandum, notebook; diary, journal; a brief
Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864
shorten
curtare: decurtare (with the idea of maiming or mangling): detrahere aliquid (in respect of number): contrahere (e.g., orationem): in angustum cogere (to contract, abridge; e.g., commentarios, Sen., Ep., 39, 1): amputare (general term, to cut shorter; e.g., orationem): imminuere (to abridge the number of syllables in pronouncing a word, as, audisse for audivisse, Cic., Or., 47, in.): notare (to abbreviate in writing).
Quick answer
- What is the Latin word for shorten?
- The usual Latin words for “shorten” are curtō, contrahō, amputō; also immineō, notō, ōrātiō. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.
Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.