v. t. 1. (Fine Art) To represent on a plane surface, as if extended in a direction toward the spectator or nearly so; to shorten by drawing in perspective. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: To represent pictorially to the imagination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Songs, and deeds, and lives that lie
Foreshortened in the tract of time. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Fine Arts) Representation in a foreshortened mode or way. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. hortensius, hortensis, fr. hortus garden; akin to E. yard an inclosure. ] Fit for a garden. [ Obs. ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Portended; p. pr. & vb. n. Portending. ] [ L. portendre, portentum, to foretell, to predict, to impend, from an old preposition used in comp. + tendere to stretch. See Position, Tend. ] 1. To indicate (events, misfortunes, etc.) as in future; to foreshow; to foretoken; to bode; -- now used esp. of unpropitious signs. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Many signs portended a dark and stormy day. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To stretch out before. [ R. ] “Doomed to feel the great Idomeneus' portended steel.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To foreshow; foretoken; betoken; forebode; augur; presage; foreshadow; threaten. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of foreshowing; foreboding. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. portentum. See Portend. ] That which portends, or foretoken; esp., that which portends evil; a sign of coming calamity; an omen; a sign. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

My loss by dire portents the god foretold. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Presaging; foreshadowing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. portentosus. ] 1. Of the nature of a portent; containing portents; foreshadowing, esp. foreshadowing ill; ominous. [ 1913 Webster ]

For, I believe, they are portentous things. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Victories of strange and almost portentous splendor. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Monstrous; prodigious; wonderful; dreadful; as, a beast of portentous size. Roscommon. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Por*tent"ous*ly, adv. -- Por*tent"ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Shortened; p. pr. & vb. n. Shortening. ] [ See Short, a. ] 1. To make short or shorter in measure, extent, or time; as, to shorten distance; to shorten a road; to shorten days of calamity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen; to abridge; to curtail; to contract; as, to shorten work, an allowance of food, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here, where the subject is so fruitful, I am shortened by my chain. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make deficient (as to); to deprive; -- with of. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spoiled of his nose, and shortened of his ears. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, pot liquor, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

To shorten a rope (Naut.), to take in the slack of it. --
To shorten sail (Naut.), to reduce sail by taking it in. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become short or shorter; as, the day shortens in northern latitudes from June to December; a metallic rod shortens by cold. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, shortens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of making or becoming short or shorter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Cookery) That which renders pastry short or friable, as butter, lard, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]