to abridge

1 definition found

to abridge - Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) :

  TO ABRIDGE, practice. To make shorter in words, so as to retain the sense or
  substance. In law it signifies particularly the making of a declaration or
  count shorter, by taking or severing away some of the substance from it.
  Brook, tit. Abridgment; Com. Dig. Abridgment; 1 Vin. Ab. 109.
       2. Abridgment of the Plaint is allowed even after verdict and before
  judgment (Booth on R. A.) in an cases of real actions where the writ is de
  lib. ten. generally, as in assize, dower; &c.; because, after the abridgment
  the writ is still true, it being liberum tenementum still.  But it is not
  allowed in a proecipe quod reddat, demanding a certain number of acres; for
  this would falsify the writ. See 2 Saund. 44, (n.) 4 ; Bro. Abr. Tit. Abr.;
  12 Levin's Ent. 76; 2 Saund. 330; Gilb. C. P. 249-253; Thel. Dig. 76, c. 28,
  pl. 15, lib. 8.