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Webster 1913 Edition

Curtail

Cur-tail′

(kŭr-tāl′)
,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Curtailed
(-tāld′)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Curtailing
.]
[See
Curtal
.]
To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to abridge; to diminish; to reduce.
I, that am
curtailed
of this fair proportion.
Shakespeare
Our incomes have been
curtailed
; his salary has been doubled.
Macaulay.

Cur′tail

(k?r′t?l)
,
Noun.
The scroll termination of any architectural member, as of a step, etc.

Webster 1828 Edition

Curtail

CURTAIL

,
Verb.
T.
[L., to cut; edge.] To shorten; to cut off the end or a part; as, to curtail words. Hence in a more general sense, to shorten in any manner; to abridge; to diminish; as, to curtail our privileges. It is followed by of before the thing shortened. His name was curtailed of three letters. We are curtailed of our rights.

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