What unabridged mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˌʌnˈæb.rɪdʒ.d/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

Describing something that has not been shortened or edited. It can also refer to a book or text that has not been abridged, leaving the content in its entirety.

Examples

The author prefers to publish the unabridged version of her novel to preserve its original ideas.
The unabridged dictionary provides detailed explanations of words and their meanings.

Synonyms

Unedited
Complete

Antonyms

Abridged
Shortened

Etymology

The term 'unabridged' originated in the 15th century from the Old French word 'abregier', which means 'to shorten' or 'to abbreviate'. It evolved from the Latin 'abbreviare' and was initially used as 'abridge' before gaining the prefix 'un-' to denote the opposite meaning.

Additional Information

An unabridged version of a work may be preferred by those who are interested in gaining a more profound understanding of the subject matter. This approach can also help to preserve the context and meaning that may be lost during the editing process.

Despite this, the creation and dissemination of unabridged content have their drawbacks. For example, the increased length and complexity may deter potential readers. Furthermore, producing an unabridged version requires more time and resources, which can increase costs.

On the other hand, there are several applications and contexts where unabridged content is beneficial. Literature students often benefit from reading unabridged versions of classic texts to better understand the author's intentions and the historical context. In academia, unabridged content may facilitate more thorough research and allow scholars to verify the accuracy of information.

Usage Notes

Language is a fundamental tool of human expression, but just like any other device, it can be manipulated and filtered to various degrees. In an increasingly interconnected world, conveying messages in their unabridged form plays a vital role in facilitating mutual understanding. To employ the term 'unabridged' in its various contexts calls for thoughtfulness. Before deciding to present content in an unabridged format, weigh the potential advantages and pitfalls. For the success of any linguistic endeavor lies in the attention given to presenting your material's comprehensive perspective.

Cultural References

Examples of the term 'unabridged' used in popular culture include titles of books, films, and music albums. Unabridged Dubliners Audio CD is an audiobook of James Joyce's collection of short stories. Another example is the 'unabridged' version of Bram Stoker's Dracula book and audiobook.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Unabridged truth
Unabridged version

Related Words or Phrases

Unexpurgated
Unedited
Complete
Comprehensive
In its entirety

Collocations

Unabridged novel
Unabridged biography
Unabridged collection

Frequency of Use

This expression is not as widely used in everyday conversation due to its somewhat specific and niche nature. Anecdotally, though it would be fair to estimate it as approximately once or twice in a moderately intellectually engaged group of people's conversation every week.

What unabridged mean Meaning and Definition