To make shorter in words retaining the substance. Also the making a declaration or count shorter by substracting or severing some of the substance therefore 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, the plaintiff might leave out those lands, and pray that the tenant might answer to the rest. [Whart.]