curtailment

Definition

The act of reducing, limiting, or cutting back on something, often referring to restrictions on resources, activities, or freedoms.

Etymology

Derived from the Anglo-Norman 'curtailer' and the Middle English 'curtall,' which meant to cut short. It likely evolved from an association with docking or shortening the tails of animals.

In the news

The article uses the word to describe the intense lifestyle sacrifices required to combat climate change, such as limiting energy consumption or personal freedoms. It is used here to frame the argument that significant societal changes are both necessary and historically precedented.

A Climate Grand Jeté

Brooks Bulletin

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