curtail
11curtail — UK [kɜː(r)ˈteɪl] / US [kɜrˈteɪl] verb [transitive] Word forms curtail : present tense I/you/we/they curtail he/she/it curtails present participle curtailing past tense curtailed past participle curtailed formal to reduce or limit something,… …
12curtail — transitive verb Etymology: by folk etymology from earlier curtal to dock an animal s tail, from curtal, noun, animal with a docked tail, from Middle French courtault more at curtal Date: 1580 to make less by or as if by cutting off or away some… …
13curtail — cur|tail [kə:ˈteıl US kə:r ] v [T] formal [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: curtal to cut short an animal s tail (15 17 centuries), from Old French courtault animal with a shortened tail ; influenced by tail] to reduce or limit something ▪ The new law… …
14curtail — curtail1 curtailedly, adv. curtailer, n. curtailment, n. /keuhr tayl /, v.t. to cut short; cut off a part of; abridge; reduce; diminish. [1425 75; late ME curtailen to restrict (said of royal succession or inheritance), prob. a conflation of MF… …
15curtail — verb ADVERB ▪ drastically, seriously, severely, sharply, significantly ▪ His power has been severely curtailed. ▪ further ▪ …
16curtail — cur|tail [ kɜr teıl ] verb transitive FORMAL to reduce or limit something, especially something good: a government attempt to curtail debate ╾ cur|tail|ment noun count or uncount …
17curtail — [16] The now defunct English noun curtal meant ‘horse with a docked tail’. It was borrowed in the 16th century from French courtault, a derivative of the adjective court ‘short’. Like English curt [17] this came from Latin curtus ‘cut off,… …
18curtail — verb (T) formal to reduce something such as the amount of money you spend: The Government wants private firms to curtail wage rises. | Our evening s enjoyment was curtailed when Alfred became ill. curtailment noun (C, U) …
19curtail — verb 1) economic policies designed to curtail spending Syn: reduce, cut, cut down, decrease, lessen, pare down, trim, retrench; restrict, limit, curb, rein in; informal slash Ant: increase 2) …
20curtail — verb 1) policies designed to curtail spending Syn: reduce, cut, cut down, decrease, trim, restrict, limit, curb, rein in/back; informal slash 2) his visit was curtailed Syn: shorten …
