Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
