shorter

adjsmaller

Synonyms for shorter

adj smaller

Antonyms for shorter

smaller

adjective. tinier

Word Origin & History

Old English sceort, scort "short, not long, not tall; brief," probably from Proto-Germanic *skurta- (cf. Old Norse skorta "to be short of," skort "shortness;" Old High German scurz "short"), from PIE root *(s)ker- (1) "to cut," with notion of "something cut off" (cf. Sanskrit krdhuh "shortened, maimed, small;" Latin curtus "short," cordus "late-born," originally "stunted in growth;" Old Church Slavonic kratuku, Russian korotkij "short;" Lithuanian skurstu "to be stunted," skardus "steep;" Old Irish cert "small," Middle Irish corr "stunted, dwarfish").

Meaning "having an insufficient quantity" is from 1690s. Meaning "rude" is attested from late 14c. Meaning "easily provoked" is from 1590s; perhaps the notion is of being "not long in tolerating." Short fuse in figurative sense of "quick temper" first attested 1968. To fall short is from archery. Short run "relatively brief period of time" is from 1879. Short story first recorded 1877. To make short work of "dispose of quickly" is first attested 1570s. Phrase short and sweet is from 1530s. To be short by the knees (1733) was to be kneeling; to be short by the head (1540s) was to be beheaded.

Example Sentences for shorter

He saw he was due to bleed to death and he took a shorter way!

But Felicien had gone a shorter way through the brambles and brushwood.

That's the shorter way—promptitude is my rule in life, Mr. Morton.

The letter could not well be shorter, nor, all things considered, colder.

In summer, meat will roast in a shorter time than in winter.

These he seemed to pinch off so that they were all of a size but one, which was shorter.

It was retained for a shorter time; they appeared to be less proud of it.

For a dog to attack another, it would have to turn upon one at a shorter rope.

She compelled obedience from him, and the older he grew the shorter grew her temper.

The interval of the larger teeth is filled with shorter teeth.

shorter

Synonyms for shorter

Antonyms for shorter

More words related to shorter

less

smaller