shorten: vt.弄短，缩短；减少；使松脆；收(帆)，缩(帆)；给(脱去长的婴孩服)改穿短衣。 shorten one's arm [sword] 缩回胳臂[剑]。 have a coat shortened 把上衣改短。 shorten the arm of 限制…的力量。 shorten a child 给孩子改穿短衣。vi.变短，缩短，缩小。
They shortened sail to let him come up in his boat 他们收了帆，让他坐着小船赶上来。
2.
" you are a gay old gentleman ! " said jekyl , relaxing his pace ; " and if we must be fellow - travellers … i must even shorten sail for you . “你算是一位兴致很好的老先生了！ ”哲吉尔放慢步伐说“既然咱们搭伴同行… …我就得为你放慢速度。 ”
