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adjective, -er, -est.
1.
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner.
2.
brief; concise; terse; laconic.
3.
short; shortened.
Origin:
1620–30; < Latin curtus shortened, short, cut short
1620–30; < Latin curtus shortened, short, cut short
Related forms
curt·ly, adverb
curt·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Curtly
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Example Sentences
- The boss curtly informs him that he was rejected by the insurance company for being overweight.
- Washington would then explain curtly that the cook was governed by the clock and not by the company.
- His answers about the possibility of reaching the post-season dribbled forth curtly.
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
curt
mid-14c., from L. curtus "(cut) short, shortened," from PIE base *(s)ker- "to cut" (see short). Sense of "rude" is first recorded 1831. The L. word was adopted early into most Gmc. languages (cf. Icelandic korta, Ger. kurz, etc.) and drove out the native words based on P.Gmc.
EXPAND*skurt-, but English retains short.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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