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curtate

adjective cur·tate \ ˈkərˌtāt \

Definition of curtate

: 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

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Origin and Etymology of curtate

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

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