curtail

Meaning

Noun

A scroll termination, as of a step, etc.

Verb

1. (obsolete, transitive) To cut short the tail of (an animal).
2. (transitive) To shorten or abridge the duration of; to bring an end to; to truncate.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To limit or restrict; to keep in check.

Synonyms

shorten

reduce

abridge

lessen

abbreviate

cut

diminish

cut down

decrease

restrict

clip

cut off

retrench

cut short

cut back

remove

slash

limit

contract

circumscribe

abstract

shrink

save

truncate

confine

lower

trim

curb

check

be concise

take away

eliminate

take

take summary action

make short

seize

count down

dock

abate

moderate

attenuate

omit

deduct

mitigate

pare

economize

lop

recapitulate

subtract

cross out

Translations

abréger

inkorten

acortar

bekorten

restreindre

beknotten

verminderen

abreviar

verkorten

limiter

raccourcir

abkürzen

beperken

écourter

kürzen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɜːˈteɪl/

Etymology

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