CURTATE
Etymology
Adjective
curtate (comparative more curtate, superlative most curtate)
shortened, having been shortened
(astronomy) said of the distance of a planet from the sun or earth, as measured in the plane of the ecliptic, or the distance from the sun or earth to that point where a perpendicular, let fall from the planet upon the plane of the ecliptic, meets the ecliptic
Anagrams
• cut-rate
Source: Wiktionary
Cur"tate (kr"tt), a. Etym: [L. curtatus, p.p. of curtare to shorten,
fr. curtus. See Curt.] (Astron.)
Definition: Shortened or reduced; -- said of the distance of a planet from
the sun or earth, as measured in the plane of the ecliptic, or the
distance from the sun or earth to that point where a perpendicular,
let fall from the planet upon the plane of the ecliptic, meets the
ecliptic. Curtate cycloid. (Math.) See Cycloid.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition