ls<-list(a="a",b="b",c="c")

> ls
$a
[1] "a"

$c
[1] "c"

x <- vector("list", 3L)
names(x) <- letters[1:3]
x[[1]] <- 1
x[[2]] <- "the element to hide"
x[[3]] <- "a"
class(x) <- c("bob", "list")
attr(x, "hidden") <- "b"
print.bob <- function (x) {
    hid <- attr(x, "hidden")
    print(x[!names(x) %in% hid])
    }
x
$a
[1] 2

$c
[1] 4
# but
length(x)
[1] 3

ls<-list(a="a",b="b",c="c")
print(ls[-2])                      # print everything but second elememt
print(ls[which(names(ls)!="b")])   # print everything but element named "b"

output.limit <- 3 # use own value
test <- list(a="a", b=c("b1", "b2", "b3"), c="c", d=c("1", "2", "3", "4"), e="e")
lapply(test, function(x) if(length(x)<output.limit) x else "<too large...>")

$a
[1] "a"

$b
[1] "<too large...>"

$c
[1] "c"

$d
[1] "<too large...>"

$e
[1] "e"