Curtail

Curtail is a verb meaning to shorten, reduce, or restrict something, often by cutting off part of it or by limiting its duration or scope. It is typically used to describe actions that decrease length, amount, or extent, such as curtailing spending, curtailing civil liberties, or curtailing a trip. The term is usually used transitively, as in curtailing a program, but can also refer to a plan or event being curtailed.

Etymology and related forms: The word derives from Middle English curtayle, from Old French curtailer, meaning to shorten or cut short, from curtal meaning shortened or short, related to Latin curtus meaning short. The noun form curtailment refers to the act or result of curtailing.

Usage and nuances: Curtailed actions are often formal decisions or policy changes and can imply inconvenience or disruption. The term emphasizes stopping partway or restricting activity rather than simply reducing it gradually. Related terms include truncate, shorten, reduce, and prune, each carrying slightly different nuance: truncate implies a precise cut, curtail emphasizes an otherwise ongoing activity being shortened, and prune suggests removing superfluous elements.

See also: curtailment, reduction, restriction.

Examples: The government curtailed funding for the project. The remainder of the trip was curtailed due to bad weather. The festival was curtailed after safety concerns.