Curtail Definition

kər-tāl
curtailed, curtailing, curtails
verb
curtailed, curtailing, curtails
To cut short; reduce; abridge.
Webster's New World

(figuratively) To limit or restrict, keep in check.

Their efforts to curtail spending didn't quite succeed.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
noun

(architecture) A scroll termination, as of a step, etc.

Wiktionary

Origin of Curtail

  • Middle English curtailen to restrict probably blend of Old French courtauld docked curtal and Middle English taillen to cut (from Old French tailler tailor)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Alteration of curtal, from Old French courtault (“which has been shortened”), itself from court (“short”) (from Latin curtus) + -ault

    From Wiktionary

Curtail Sentence Examples

  • We decided to curtail the event because people began to leave early.

  • Could you please curtail the texting and driving while I am a passenger in your car?

  • Let's try to curtail the time we spend indoors and enjoy the summer season.

  • If you want to lose weight, curtail the time you spend watching television and replace it with exercise.

  • In general, however, the tendency has been, under continental influence, to curtail its proportions.

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Find Similar Words

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Words Starting With

CCUCUR

Words Ending With

LILAIL

Unscrambles

curtail

Words Starting With C and Ending With L

Starts With C & Ends With LStarts With CU & Ends With LStarts With C & Ends With IL

Word Length

7 Letter Words7 Letter Words Starting With C7 Letter Words Ending With L