curtail

[ ker-teyl ]

/ kərˈteɪl /

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See synonyms for: curtail / curtailed / curtailing / curtailment on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

OTHER WORDS FOR curtail

lessen, dock.

See synonyms for curtail on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of curtail

First recorded in 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)

synonym study for curtail

See shorten.

OTHER WORDS FROM curtail

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

un·cur·tailed, adjective

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

Probably alteration, by folk etymology, of curtal

How to use curtail in a sentence

The first precious boxloads of the frozen elixir arrived in December, bearing great promise for curtailing the pandemic that has paralyzed the region and the world.
Confusion and chaos: Inside the vaccine rollout in D.C., Maryland and Virginia|Julie Zauzmer, Gregory S. Schneider, Erin Cox|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
Senior House Democrats on Monday night proposed sending $1,400 stimulus payments to Americans with up to $75,000 in annual income, rejecting an earlier plan under consideration to sharply curtail the benefits.
House Democrats reject plan to sharply curtail $1,400 stimulus payments in coronavirus relief package|Jeff Stein, Erica Werner|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
As the exhibition argues for conservation of resources and curtailing the rampant consumption destroying the planet, it does so in the vernacular of excess.
Baltimore exhibition of outsider art celebrates nature’s ‘excess’ with a wake-up call about pollution|Kelsey Ables|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
Moreover, efforts to curtail no-excuse early voting have nothing to do with election security.
Shrinking the GOP, one state at a time|Jennifer Rubin|February 2, 2021|Washington Post

The District approved hundreds of temporary outdoor dining permits last year that allowed businesses to take advantage of unused sidewalk space, alleys and parking lanes — generating a lifeline as indoor dining was shut down or drastically curtailed.
‘Streateries’ are thriving, but only in some parts of D.C. Now Bowser wants to expand them.|Michael Brice-Saddler, Fritz Hahn|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
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
Thereafter severe repressive measures were taken to curtail its power.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2|Various
The narrator dwelt on the flirtation lovingly, and at great length, but here we are obliged to curtail it.
The Cradle of Mankind|W.A. Wigram
The lords accepted the colonists' petition, and gave forth that they did not intend to curtail their liberties.
William Bradford of Plymouth|Albert Hale Plumb
The nobles and the clergy adhered tenaciously to their privileges, and the Court would curtail none of its unnecessary expenses.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume IX|John Lord
Hence anything which will curtail our sufferings and add to our pleasures or our powers, should be sought as the highest good.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume VI|John Lord

British Dictionary definitions for curtail

curtail

/ (kɜːˈteɪl) /

verb

(tr) to cut short; abridge

Derived forms of curtail

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

curtail

OTHER WORDS FOR curtail

Origin of curtail

synonym study for curtail

OTHER WORDS FROM curtail

Words nearby curtail

Other definitions for curtail (2 of 2)

Origin of curtail

Words related to curtail

How to use curtail in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for curtail

Derived forms of curtail

Word Origin for curtail