Curtate
Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:55 am
Short or abbreviated, as a ''curtate life expectancy''.
interesting Grogie, I hadn't heard of that one is it related to curtail?
Kt
apparently not.cur·tail (kr-tl)
tr.v. cur·tailed, cur·tail·ing, cur·tails
To cut short or reduce. See Synonyms at shorten.
[Middle English curtailen, to restrict, probably blend of Old French courtauld, docked; see curtal, and Middle English taillen, to cut (from Old French tailler; see tailor).]
cur·tailer n.
cur·tailment n.
and
cur·tate (kûrtt)
adj.
Having been shortened; abbreviated.
[Latin curttus, past participle of curtre, to shorten, from curtus, cut short; see curt.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.