add vs shorten

add

verb
  • To give by way of increased possession (to someone); to bestow (on). 

  • To append (e.g. a statement); to say further information; to add on. 

  • To summon minions or reinforcements. 

  • To combine elements of (something) into one quantity. 

  • To make an addition; to augment; to increase; to add on. 

  • To join or unite (e.g. one thing to another, or as several particulars) so as to increase the number, augment the quantity, or enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. 

  • To sum up; to put together mentally; to add up. 

  • To perform the arithmetical operation of addition. 

noun
  • The addition of a song to a station's playlist. 

  • An act or instance of adding. 

  • An additional enemy that joins a fight after the primary target. 

shorten

verb
  • To make deficient (as to); to deprive (of). 

  • To reduce or diminish in amount, quantity, or extent; to lessen. 

  • To take in the slack of (a rope). 

  • To reduce (sail) by taking it in. 

  • To become shorter. 

  • To make shorter; to abbreviate. 

  • To make short or friable, as pastry, with butter, lard, etc. 

How often have the words add and shorten occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )