from
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.