abridge vs abbreviate

abridge and abbreviate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
abridge	No	No	Yes	No
abbreviate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, abridge and abbreviate are synonyms defined as:

abridge and abbreviate: reduce in scope while retaining essential elements

Other synonyms of abridge include contract, cut, foreshorten, reduce, shorten.

abridge (verb)	abbreviate (verb)
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements	shorten
lessen, diminish, or curtail	reduce in scope while retaining essential elements