Abridge

Abridge [fr. abreger, Fr., abbreviare, Lat.], to make shorter in words retaining the substance. Also the making a declaration or count shorter by subtracting or severing some of the substance therefrom, i.e., a man was said to abridge his plaint in assize, and a woman her demand in action of dower, where any land was put into the plaint or demand which was not in the tenure of the defendant; for if the defendant pleaded non-tenure, joint-tenancy, or the like, in abatement of the writ as to part of the lands, and plaintiff might leave out those lands, and pray that the tenant might answer to the rest, Brooke, tit. 'Abridgment.' Now obsolete in consequence of the abolition of real and mixed actions, by the (English) Real Property Limitations Act, 1833 (3 & 4 Will. 4, c. 27), s. 36, and the (English) Common Law Procedure Act, 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. C. 126), s. 26.