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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1828
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SHORTEN, v. Sc. usage: to cause time to seem short for, cheer, enliven, amuse. Cf. Short, v., Shortsome.Sc. 1828 Young Beichan in Child Ballads No. 53 M. xiv.:
She is to her lonely bower, To shorten her wi a sang.
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"Shorten v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shorten>
