curtail

[ ker-teyl ]

/ kərˈteɪl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curtail ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish.

Nearby words

cursor, cursorial, cursory, curst, curt, curtail, curtail step, curtain, curtain call, curtain lecture, curtain line

Origin of curtail

1425–75; late Middle English curtailen to restrict (said of royal succession or inheritance), probably a conflation of Middle French courtau(l)d (see curtal) and Middle English taillen to cut (see taille, tailor¹)

SYNONYMS FOR curtail

lessen, dock. See shorten.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR curtail ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

cur·tailed·ly, adverbcur·tail·er, nouncur·tail·ment, nounnon·cur·tail·ing, adjective

non·cur·tail·ment, nounun·cur·tailed, adjective

Definition for curtail (2 of 2)

curtail

[ kur-teyl ]

/ ˈkɜrˌteɪl /

noun Architecture.

a horizontal, spiral termination to the lower end of a stair railing.

Also called curtail step. a starting step having a scroll termination to one or both ends of the tread.

Origin of curtail

probably alteration, by folk etymology, of curtal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for curtail

Rail at the bigots in Washington on TV seeking to curtail equality?
Dear John, It Gets Better: A Letter to Travolta|Tim Teeman|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With the World Cup fast approaching, Brazil is attempting to curtail its controversial soccer fan clubs.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, May 31, 2014||May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But it is also time to curtail the demand for ivory in Asia.
The Curse of CAR: Warlords, Blood Diamonds, and Dead Elephants|Christopher Day|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The promises of benefit are false, and government action to curtail this kind of fraud is long overdue.
FDA Moves to Crack Down on Quack Autism ‘Cures’|Russell Saunders|April 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Bill de Blasio successfully campaigned for mayor on the promise to curtail it.
My Patrol With the NYPD’s Bill Bratton|Michael Daly|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not more than twoscore churches contributed to its treasury, and it was obliged, to curtail its expenses in every direction.
Unitarianism in America|George Willis Cooke
He would have to curtail his expenditure, or take up some calling, or make a brilliant catch in the matrimonial market.
Sentimental Education, Volume II|Gustave Flaubert
I thought he should have requested the people to curtail their contributions.
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians|Martin Luther
We can curtail our dress no further without making our garb identical with our complexion.
The Arena|Various
With respect to thanksgiving after mass, there is less to be said, as the temptation to omit or curtail it is less.
The Priestly Vocation|Bishop Bernard Ward

British Dictionary definitions for curtail

curtail

/ (kɜːˈteɪl) /

verb

(tr) to cut short; abridge

Derived Forms

curtailer, nouncurtailment, noun

Word Origin for curtail

C16: changed (through influence of tail 1) from obsolete curtal to dock; see curtal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012