curtail
1[ ker-teyl ]
/ kərˈteɪl /
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verb (used with object)
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Origin of curtail
1synonym study for curtail
See shorten.
OTHER WORDS FROM curtail
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
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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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