abbreviate

And it's easier to delay something than to make something happen, so things tended to elongate rather than abbreviate.

In all letters of this sort they always abbreviate some words; it looks more business-like.

On the days when there is washing or sweeping or baking to do she will have to abbreviate other things.

Gentlemen, I have seen fit to abbreviate the King's message.

Every thing tends in a wonderful manner to abbreviate itself and yield its own virtue to him.

By this time you can pretty well imagine them, and my story is likely to be too long, unless I abbreviate.