a. [ L. curtatus, p. p. of curtare to shorten, fr. curtus. See Curt. ] (Astron.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Curtate cycloid. (Math.)
n. [ LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. Curé ] One who has the cure of souls; originally, any clergyman, but now usually limited to one who assists a rector or vicar. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]
All this the good old man performed alone,
He spared no pains, for curate he had none. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A curacy. [ 1913 Webster ]