curtail

[ ker-teyl ]

/ kərˈteɪl /

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verb (used with object)

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

Nearby words

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

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

Examples from the Web for curtailed

Was it a mistake to veto the bill that would have curtailed such furloughs?
Want President Hillary? Then Primary Her|Jeff Greenfield|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the open policy was then curtailed again when border controls tightened significantly following 9/11.
Ellis Island’s Doubled-Edged Legacy|J.P. O’Malley|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In March 2012, Time reported that Israel had curtailed much of its covert activities in Iran.
Inside Israel’s Frenemy Diplomacy With Turkey|Eli Lake|October 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rumors spread from Foggy Bottom after the coup that arms shipments may be curtailed.
What’s Left of Obama’s Mideast Policy?|Marty Peretz|July 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Second, whatever Hacked Off and the politicians may say, some legitimate journalism will now be curtailed.
Phone Hacking: The Scandal that Changed Everything for the British Press|David Frum|March 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It feels hurt when a rhythm is maimed or curtailed as if it had been defrauded of due payment.
An Essay on True and Apparent Beauty in which from Settled Principles is Rendered the Grounds for Choosing and Rejecting Epigrams|Pierre Nicole
She has curtailed it; and from its parts or chapters has compiled one continuous narrative.
British Quarterly Review, American Edition, Volume LIV|Various
Carl Brenner, like a child, could not appreciate poverty unless his dinner was curtailed, his tobacco gone.
Rodman the Keeper|Constance Fenimore Woolson
She knew that more could be made of her beauty and her triumph if she curtailed her wish.
By the Light of the Soul|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
They shall be nameless here that that pleasure may not be curtailed.
Rambles in Brittany|Francis Miltoun

British Dictionary definitions for curtailed

curtail

/ (kɜːˈteɪl) /

verb

(tr) to cut short; abridge

Derived Formscurtailer, 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

Word Origin and History for curtailed

curtail

late 15c., from Middle French courtault "made short," from court "short" (Old French cort, from Latin curtus; see curt) + -ault pejorative suffix of Germanic origin. Originally curtal; used of horses with docked tails, which probably influenced the spelling. Related: Curtailed; curtailing.

curtail

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of curtail

Examples from the Web for curtailed

British Dictionary definitions for curtailed

curtail

verb

Word Origin for curtail

Word Origin and History for curtailed

curtail