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curtail
1[ ker-teyl ]
/ kərˈteɪl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
verb (used with object)
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Origin of curtail
1synonym study for curtail
See shorten.
OTHER WORDS FROM curtail
Words nearby curtail
cursor, cursorial, cursory, curst, curt, curtail, curtailment, curtail step, curtain, curtain call, curtain lecture
Other definitions for curtail (2 of 2)
curtail2
[ 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
2Probably alteration, by folk etymology, of curtal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use curtail in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for curtail
curtail
/ (kɜːˈteɪl) /
verb
(tr) to cut short; abridge
Derived forms of curtail
curtailer, nouncurtailment, nounWord 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
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