short

Everyday

1. Short means not long: a short pencil, a short story. tree →
2. Short means not tall: a short person. tree →
3. Short means lasting a little time: a short break. tree →
4. Short of something means not having enough of it: $4 short. tree →
5. «Short for» means a shorter form of a name: Tom is short for Thomas. tree →
6. Shorts are short trousers. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: a comparison of length, height or time; «shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more. Everyday: a short walk, short hair, in short (to sum up), run short of milk, cut short. Spelling: a short vowel.

Examples

• Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann. tree →
• She is $4 short of the price. tree →
• Which ribbon is the shortest? tree →
• A short break lasts 10 minutes. tree →
• The days are short in winter. tree →
• Liz is short for Elizabeth. tree →
• We ran short of glue, so we used tape. tree →
• He wears shorts in summer. tree →
• They only stayed a short time. tree →

Note

Comparative shorter, superlative shortest. «Shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more (price − money). Trap: «Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann» — to find Ann's height you add. Opposites: long (for length and time), tall (for height).

In Jewish tradition

In Job and the Psalms, short describes things that do not last: the light in darkness, the triumph of the wicked, and a person's time on earth. A man's short life is set against God's endless power.

Interpretation. The tradition answers that God's power is never limited, and the question shows Moses' doubt. It reads the verses on short time as a reminder that human life is brief and that the wicked do not last.

Examples

• And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not.' (Torah NUM.11.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing too long or too short, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. (Torah LEV.22.23, JPS 1917) tree →
• For convenience of study I have placed the Notes in a separate form at the end of the work, and I have made a short definition of the subject-matter of each chapter. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness. (Writings JOB.17.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment? (Writings JOB.20.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• O remember how short my time is; for what vanity hast Thou created all the children of men! (Writings PSA.89.48, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparative shorter, superlative shortest. «Shorter by» means subtract; «short of» an amount means you need that much more (price − money). Trap: «Tom is 5 cm shorter than Ann» — to find Ann's height you add. Opposites: long (for length and time), tall (for height).