Sentence:  It was still necessary for the man who had been formerly saluted by the highest authority as dictator of the English language to supply his wants by constant toil. He <WSD>abridged</WSD> his Dictionary. He proposed to bring out an edition of Shakespeare by subscription, and many subscribers sent in their names and laid down their money; but he soon found the task so little to his taste that he turned to more attractive employments. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to epitomize; to condense(First attested in 1384.)<ref>(page=4)</ref>. (First attested from around (1350 to 1470))<ref name=SOED/>