2006-12-24 02:46:12 · 13 answers · asked by bruce041 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"Breve" is Latin origin meaning "short". The rest of the word - simply little bits added on:
ab from ad - to
iate - makes it verbal
d - makes it a past participle
So, "shortened to".
2006-12-24 05:14:37 · answer #1 · answered by JJ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeh, "kindergarten" is another one. Why such a long word for a class with 5- and 6-year-old kids? Most of them can't even say the word, much less spell it.
2006-12-24 04:27:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if it weren't long enough than you wouldn't need to abbreviate it.. And you need to abbreviate abbreviate because it's responsible for all the other abbreviatable words so it needs to set an example. Be long, cos i can shorten you. By the way, what is the abbreviation for the word abbreviation ? =/
2006-12-24 02:58:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
so you can demonstrate. Abbreviate the word abbreviate... abbrv.
Just kidding...Brevis is the latin word for short, and it is the root of the word abbreviate
2006-12-24 03:43:28 · answer #4 · answered by MR 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason that the word "short" has more letters than "long".
2006-12-24 02:55:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but "abbreviation" and "abbreviating" are even longer!
2006-12-24 02:51:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
funny! :)
Great observation. Its like an oxymoron, but better! I think that the people who developed our language must have done it on pupose to make us laugh! ;)
2006-12-24 02:56:54 · answer #7 · answered by dolphinluver 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
brought to you by the same ******* who put a "P" in pneumonia
2006-12-24 04:53:19 · answer #8 · answered by Charlie Lima Oscar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great observation, and good question....It is almost an oxymoron.
2006-12-24 02:52:18 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same reason "monosyllabic" isn't
2006-12-24 02:50:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋