scarify

  • 1scarify — pronounced with the first syllable as in scab, is a semi technical word meaning ‘to scratch or make incisions in’, and has nothing to do with the verb scare. A verb scarify, pronounced like scare and formed on the analogy of terrify, meaning ‘to… …

    Modern English usage

  • 2scarify — Ⅰ. scarify [1] ► VERB (scarifies, scarified) 1) cut and remove debris from (a lawn) with a scarifier. 2) break up the surface of (soil or a road or pavement). 3) make shallow incisions in (the skin). 4) criticize severely and hurtfully …

    English terms dictionary

  • 3Scarify — Scar i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scarified}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scarifying}.] [F. scarifier, L. scarificare, scarifare, fr. Gr. ? to scratch up, fr. ? a pointed instrument.] 1. To scratch or cut the skin of; esp. (Med.), to make small incisions in,… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4scarify — index lash (attack verbally) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 5scarify — (v.) 1540s, cover witch scratches, from Fr. scarifier (14c.), from L.L. scarificare (see SCARIFICATION (Cf. scarification)). The sense cover with scars (1680s) is a sense shift from influence of SCAR (Cf. scar) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 6scarify — [skar′ə fī΄] vt. scarified, scarifying [MFr scarifier < LL scarificare, altered < L scarifare < Gr skariphasthai, to scratch an outline, sketch < skariphos, pencil, stylus, akin to L scribere, to write: see SCRIBE] 1. to make a series …

    English World dictionary

  • 7scarify — I. transitive verb ( fied; fying) Etymology: Middle English scarifien, from Middle French scarefier, from Late Latin scarificare, alteration of Latin scarifare, from Greek skariphasthai to scratch an outline, sketch more at scribe Date: 14th… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 8scarify — To produce scarification. * * * scar·i·fy skar ə .fī, sker vt, fied; fy·ing to make scratches or small cuts in (as the skin) <scarify an area for vaccination> …

    Medical dictionary

  • 9scarify — scarifier, n. /skar euh fuy /, v.t., scarified, scarifying. 1. to make scratches or superficial incisions in (the skin, a wound, etc.), as in vaccination. 2. to lacerate by severe criticism. 3. to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator. 4.… …

    Universalium

  • 10scarify — verb /ˈskæˌɹɪ.faɪ/ To remove thatch (build up of organic matter on the soil) from a lawn, to de thatch …

    Wiktionary