The word "shortens" is spelled with eight letters and two syllables. The first syllable "short" is pronounced as /ʃɔːt/, which is represented by the phonetic symbols /ʃ/ for the "sh" sound, /ɔː/ for the "or" sound, and /t/ for the final "t" sound. The second syllable "ens" is pronounced as /ɛnz/, represented by /ɛ/ for the "e" sound, /n/ for the "n" sound, and /z/ for the final "s" sound. Therefore, the IPA phonetic transcription of "shortens" is /ʃɔːtɛnz/.
Shortens is the third person singular present tense of the verb "shorten," commonly used to describe the act of reducing the length, size, or duration of something. When something shortens, it becomes less lengthy, smaller, or briefer than it was previously.
The term can be used in various contexts, such as in reference to physical objects, time durations, or even abstract concepts. In relation to physical objects, the process of shortening often involves cutting, trimming, or removing a portion of an item, resulting in its decreased length or size. For example, when tailoring a dress, a seamstress may shorten it by shortening the hemline or taking in the width.
In terms of time durations, shortening implies reducing the length of a particular period or event. This could refer to abbreviating a meeting by omitting certain agenda items or decreasing the overall time allotted for its completion.
In a more abstract sense, shortening can be used to describe the process of making something more concise or condensed. This applies to various forms of communication, such as summarizing a lengthy report, compressing a story into a shorter version, or condensing a piece of writing by eliminating unnecessary details.
Overall, shortens denotes the action of diminishing the length, size, or duration of something, whether tangible or intangible, thereby making it more compact, concise, or brief.
The word "shorten" is derived from the Old English word "scortian" or "scorten", which means "to make short" or "to become shorter". It ultimately comes from the Proto-Germanic word "skurtijaną". The word "shorten" combines the base word "short" with the suffix "-en", which indicates an action or result.