Put link next to a contract (7)
I believe the answer is:
abridge
'contract' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'put link next to a' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'link' could be 'bridge' (bridging is a kind of linking) and 'bridge' is located in the answer.
'a' is found in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abridge that I've seen before include "Shorten by using fewer words" , "Concentrate" , "Curtail" , "Shorten, a book say, without losing the sense" , "(US) cattle-pen" .)