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Definition of "foreshorten" [fore•short•en]

  • To shorten the lines of (an object) in a drawing or other representation so as to produce an illusion of projection or extension in space. (verb-transitive)
  • To reduce the length of; curtail or abridge. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "foreshorten" in a sentence
  • "And instead of medical conditions that if untreated would likely foreshorten his life considerably, it was a medical condition that would likely produce death in relatively short order if untreated, e.g., serious cardiac arrhythmia predisposing to sudden death if not treated, maybe with a pacemaker?"
  • "Profound depression and vegetative symptoms result from realizing nothing that individuals do matters and that there is no way to end, foreshorten or even know the duration of their suffering."
  • "Oh, yes, Speaker Pelosi, it was more important to foreshorten debate so that the "troops" could go home on recess than to more fully consider, and possibly fashion, an improved piece of legislation."