The term 'SHORTENS, IN A WAY' can be solved by two crossword solutions: HEMS (4 letters) and ELIDES (6 letters). HEMS is a term used to describe the process of shortening a garment by cutting off excess fabric and hemming the edges. ELIDES is a term used to describe the process of omitting or deleting a sound or syllable from a word or phrase. Both terms refer to the act of making something shorter.