curtail Copy link Outline I. Lit.II. Fig.1. arto or arcto, 1 (to bring within narrower limits)2. cŏarto, 1 (in same sense)3. immĭnuo, mĭnuo, 3 • curtail: I. Lit.: to cut off a part: dēcurto, praecīdo, mŭtĭlo: v. to mutilate, shorten, cut off. II. Fig.: (much more freq. in this sense). to limit, diminish: 1. arto or arcto, 1 (to bring within narrower limits): fortune moulds and c.s the fortunes of men, fortuna humana fingit a.que, Pl.: in rewards and in honours everything was c.'d, in praemiis, in honoribus omnia artata, Liv.: to c. oneself, i. e. one's expenses, artare se, Ulp. 2. cŏarto, 1 (in same sense): Cic., who uses it of curtailing or compressing in speech: Liv. 3. immĭnuo, mĭnuo, 3: v. to diminish. Phr.: to c. the honour due to a class, detrahere honorem debitum ordini, Cic.: to c. the advantages of a city, commoda urbis mutilare, Cod. Just.: to c. ambitious ornaments, ornamenta ambitiosa recīdere, Hor.: circumcidere, Quint. Join: circumcidere et amputare (multitudinem sententiarum), Cic.