curtate

adjective

cur·​tate

ˈkərˌtāt

: comparatively short or shortened

curtate expectation of life

specifically, of an annuity : payable to the end of each complete year survived but not for part of a year

Word History

Etymology

Latin curtatus, past participle of curtare to shorten, from curtus shortened

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!