---
title: curtail — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «curtail» in the school dictionary: To cut something short or make it smaller, less or shorter, often against people's wishes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# curtail

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** people, Rain, storm, new rules, Grandma, king · **What happens:** cut, make, wish, limit, reduce, curtail · **To what, where:** something, it, freedom, cricket match, school trip, council

<!-- .vabout -->
«curtail» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [curtail in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/curtail.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To cut something short or make it smaller, less or shorter, often against people's wishes.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:m1:1
# text = To cut something short or make it smaller, less or shorter, often against people's wishes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	cut	cut	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	short	short	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obj	_	_
8	smaller	small	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
10	less	less	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	conj	_	_
11	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	shorter	short	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
14	often	often	ADV	RB	_	18	advmod	_	_
15	against	against	ADP	IN	_	18	case	_	_
16	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	's	's	PART	POS	_	16	case	_	_
18	wishes	wish	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cut** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | against people's wishes | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset something=Product |
| 2 | **make** | infinitive |  | it |  |  |  | small *property* | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset it=Product |
| 3 | **wish** |  | people |  |  |  |  |  | nom wish «feeling intransitive»: poss=agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: formal — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To limit or reduce someone's freedom or power.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:m2:1
# text = To limit or reduce someone's freedom or power.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	limit	limit	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	4	cc	_	_
4	reduce	reduce	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
5	someone	someone	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	's	's	PART	POS	_	5	case	_	_
7	freedom	freedom	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **limit** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer |
| 2 | **reduce** | infinitive |  | someone's freedom or power |  |  |  |  | vn limit-76 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer freedom=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Rain curtailed the cricket match.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x1:1
# text = Rain curtailed the cricket match.
1	Rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	curtailed	curtail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	cricket	cricket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	match	match	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | past | Rain | the cricket match |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The school trip was curtailed because a storm was coming.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x2:1
# text = The school trip was curtailed because a storm was coming.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	school	school	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	compound	_	_
3	trip	trip	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
5	curtailed	curtail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	aux	_	_
10	coming	come	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	5	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | past · passive |  | the school trip |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **come** | past · progressive | a storm |  |  |  |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The council has curtailed spending on the parks.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x3:1
# text = The council has curtailed spending on the parks.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	council	council	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	has	have	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	curtailed	curtail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	spending	spend	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	4	xcomp	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	parks	park	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | present · perfect · passive |  | the council |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **spend** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  | on the parks *goal* | vn consume-66-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent on park=Goal |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) The new rules curtail the use of phones in class.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x4:1
# text = (formal) The new rules curtail the use of phones in class.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	new	new	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	rules	rule	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nsubj	_	_
7	curtail	curtail	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	use	use	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	_
10	of	of	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
11	phones	phone	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	nmod	_	_
12	in	in	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
13	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | infinitive | the new rules | the use of phones in class |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** |  |  | phones in class |  |  |  |  | nom use «act transitive»: of=patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Our holiday was curtailed when Grandma fell ill.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x5:1
# text = Our holiday was curtailed when Grandma fell ill.
1	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	holiday	holiday	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	curtailed	curtail	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	7	advmod	_	_
6	Grandma	Grandma	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
7	fell	fall	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	advcl	_	_
8	ill	ill	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | past · passive |  | Our holiday |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **fall** | past | Grandma |  |  |  |  | ill *property* | vn occur-48.3 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The king tried to curtail the power of the lords.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x6:1
# text = The king tried to curtail the power of the lords.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	king	king	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tried	try	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	curtail	curtail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	power	power	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	of	of	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	lords	lord	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	7	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **try** | past | the king |  |  |  |  |  | vn try-61.1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 2 | **curtail** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the king *not said here* | the power of the lords |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
(formal) Candidates must curtail their answers to two hundred words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x7:1
# text = (formal) Candidates must curtail their answers to two hundred words.
1	(	(	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	formal	formal	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	)	)	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	2	punct	_	_
4	Candidates	candidate	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
5	must	must	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	curtail	curtail	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	answers	answer	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
9	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	11	compound	_	_
11	hundred	hundred	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	12	nummod	_	_
12	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **curtail** | must | formal Candidates | Candidates's answers |  |  |  | to hundred words | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** |  | Candidates *= candidate* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I have reduced the pieces of advice to three, and curtailed somewhat.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:curtail:x8:1
# text = I have reduced the pieces of advice to three, and curtailed somewhat.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
2	have	have	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	reduced	reduce	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	pieces	piece	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	advice	advice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nmod	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
9	three	three	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	12	cc	_	_
12	curtailed	curtail	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	3	conj	_	_
13	somewhat	somewhat	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reduce** | present · perfect | I | the pieces of advice |  |  |  | to three *goal* | vn limit-76 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Causer piece=Patient to three=Goal |
| 2 | **curtail** | past | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | somewhat *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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