foreshorten

[ fawr-shawr-tn, fohr- ]

verb (used with object)

1. Fine Arts. to reduce or distort (parts of a represented object that are not parallel to the picture plane) in order to convey the illusion of three-dimensional space as perceived by the human eye: often done according to the rules of perspective.
2. to abridge, reduce, or contract; make shorter.

foreshorten

/ fɔːˈʃɔːtən /

verb

1. to represent (a line, form, object, etc) as shorter than actual length in order to give an illusion of recession or projection, in accordance with the laws of linear perspective
2. to make shorter or more condensed; reduce or abridge

Other Words From

• unfore·shortened adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreshorten¹

First recorded in 1600–10; fore- + shorten

Example Sentences

However, Mr Johnson persevered to foreshorten his mandate.

From The Guardian

The organisation argues that legalisation would go against "the ethics of clinical practice, as the principal purpose of medicine is to improve patients' quality of life, not to foreshorten it".

From BBC

“Removing accommodation too quickly could needlessly foreshorten the expansion,” Mr. Powell said.

From Wall Street Journal

The First Amendment: Freedom of speech and religion: Travolta and Cruise can have their e-meters Jews can foreshorten their son’s peepee Folks can meet and protest your stupid tweeters And Maureen Dowd can call you a creepy.

From Washington Post

If Daniels truly wanted a political career, she might post more of this stuff, and fewer selfies that so drastically foreshorten her body that she looks like a head on a pair of floating breasts.

From Slate