scarify
[ skar-uh-fahy ]
/ ˈskær əˌfaɪ /
verb (used with object), scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing.
to make scratches or superficial incisions in (the skin, a wound, etc.), as in vaccination.
to lacerate by severe criticism.
to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator.
to hasten the sprouting of (hard-covered seeds) by making incisions in the seed coats.
to break up (a road surface).
Origin of scarify
1400–50; late Middle English
scarifie < Middle French
scarifier < Late Latin
scarīficāre, alteration of Latin
scarīfāre, scarīphāre to make scratches < Greek
skarīphâsthai to sketch, derivative of
skárīphos stylus; see
-ify
OTHER WORDS FROM scarify
scar·i·fi·er, noun un·scar·i·fied, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH scarify
scarify scorifyWords nearby scarify
Example sentences from the Web for scarify
British Dictionary definitions for scarify (1 of 2)
scarify
1
/ (ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ, ˈskærɪ-) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied (tr)
surgery
to make tiny punctures or superficial incisions in (the skin or other tissue), as for inoculating
agriculture
- to break up and loosen (soil) to a shallow depth
- to scratch or abrade the outer surface of (seeds) to increase water absorption or hasten germination
to wound with harsh criticism
Derived forms of scarify
scarification, noun scarifier, nounWord Origin for scarify
C15: via Old French from Latin
scarīfāre to scratch open, from Greek
skariphasthai to draw, from
skariphos a pencil
British Dictionary definitions for scarify (2 of 2)
scarify
2
/ (ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ) /
verb -fies, -fying or -fied
(tr) informal
to make scared; frighten
Derived forms of scarify
scarifyingly, adverbWord Origin for scarify
C18: from
scare +
-ify
usage for scarify
Scarify is sometimes wrongly thought to mean the same as
scare: a frightening (not
scarifying)
film
Medical definitions for scarify
scarify
[ skăr′ə-fī′ ]
v.
To make shallow cuts in the skin, as when vaccinating.