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curtail

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curtail

Main Entry:: cur·tail
Pronunciation:: \(ˌ)kər-ˈtāl\
Function:: 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 part <curtail the power of the executive branch> <curtail inflation>

synonyms see shorten

— cur·tail·er

Listen to the pronunciation of curtailer

\-ˈtā-lər\ noun

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