curtail
1- to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish.
Origin of curtail
1Synonyms for curtail
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for curtailment
Contemporary Examples of curtailment
The mayor-elect turned serious when asked how the appointment jibed with his call for the curtailment of stop-and-frisk.
Osama bin Laden may be dead but the extraordinary government powers and curtailment of civil liberties enacted after 9/11 remain.
Historical Examples of curtailment
But, perhaps, such a sacrifice as the curtailment of your education will not be required of you.
Nan Sherwood at Pine CampAnnie Roe Carr
There was a noble financial policy, a curtailment of expense.
Mr. Crewe's Career, CompleteWinston Churchill
That there was no necessity for this third curtailment ordered in January.
Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2)Thomas Hart Benton
Why not then stop the curtailment, and restore the exchanges to their former footing?
Thirty Years' View (Vol. I of 2)Thomas Hart Benton
But did they ever consent to a curtailment of their own rights?
Saunterings in and about LondonMax Schlesinger
curtail
- (tr) to cut short; abridge
Word Origin for curtail
Word Origin and History for curtailment
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.