Shorthand

//ˈʃɔːthænd// noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    written in abbreviated or symbolic form wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    A rough and rapid method of writing by substituting symbols for letters, words, etc. countable, uncountable

    "There is a Notion prevails among many People, to yͤ prejudice of all kinds of Short-hand; which is this. That when a Person sets down a Memorandum in his pocket Book in Short-hand, it is lost, in caſe of Death or any other accident, to yͤ rest of yͤ World, though it may contain things of great Consequence to other People. [...] I affirm, [...] that if any Person makes use of my long Short hand, which he will certainly do, in caſe he deſigns that what he writes should be read by another Person, it will be as legible to any one acquainted with this Art, as if it was writ in Round Hand."

  2. 2
    a method of writing rapidly using an abbreviated symbolic system wordnet
  3. 3
    Any brief or shortened way of saying or doing something. broadly, countable, uncountable

    "The jargon becomes a shorthand for these advanced concepts."

Verb
  1. 1
    To render (spoken or written words) into shorthand. transitive

    "All the time she'd pretended to be fiddling with her purse over there behind the man, she'd been shorthanding him down—every word, every quotation, every date, every name."

  2. 2
    To use a brief or shortened way of saying or doing something. broadly, transitive

    "It seems to me, however one looks at it—and I am torpedoing, "shorthanding", my arguments, though they can be developed at great length—that there is no military case for a large standing Army, and I pick out three arguments that I think are tremendously important which I should like the Minister to answer, even though he may reject them."

  3. 3
    To write in shorthand. intransitive

    "Steele nodded and settled on the chesterfield. He regarded Betty seriously, her notebook poised on the table beside her as she reclined in her chair. [...] "I remember," Betty acknowledged, and went on shorthanding."

Etymology

Etymology 1

The noun is derived from short + hand (“handwriting; style of penmanship”). The verb is derived from the noun.

Etymology 2

The noun is derived from short + hand (“handwriting; style of penmanship”). The verb is derived from the noun.

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