decapitate

[ dih-kap-i-teyt ]
/ dɪˈkæp ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object), de·cap·i·tat·ed, de·cap·i·tat·ing.

to cut off the head of; behead: Many people were decapitated during the French Revolution.

Origin of decapitate

1605–15; < Late Latin dēcapitātus, past participle of dēcapitāre, equivalent to dē- de- + capit- (stem of caput) head + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM decapitate

de·cap·i·ta·tion, noun de·cap·i·ta·tor, noun

Example sentences from the Web for decapitate

British Dictionary definitions for decapitate

decapitate
/ (dɪˈkæpɪˌteɪt) /

verb

(tr) to behead

Derived forms of decapitate

decapitation, noun decapitator, noun

Word Origin for decapitate

C17: from Late Latin dēcapitāre, from Latin de- + caput head