decapitate

American  

[dih-kap-i-teyt] / dɪˈkæp ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

decapitates, present (3rd person singular) decapitated, past participle, past decapitating present participle

1. to cut off the head of; behead.

   Many people were decapitated during the French Revolution.

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decapitate British  

/ dɪˈkæpɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to behead

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• decapitator
  noun
• decapitation
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has decapitated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have decapitated
  perfect
• are decapitating
  progressive
• have been decapitating
  perfect progressive
• am decapitating
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been decapitating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• decapitating
  participle
• is decapitating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• decapitates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had decapitated
  perfect
• was decapitating
  progressive singular
• had been decapitating
  perfect progressive
• were decapitating
  progressive plural
• decapitated
  simple
• decapitated
  participle

Future

• will decapitate
  simple
• will have decapitated
  perfect
• will be decapitating
  progressive
• will have been decapitating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of decapitate

1605–15; < Late Latin dēcapitātus, past participle of dēcapitāre, equivalent to dē- de- + capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

When the bad-tempered Queen of Hearts cried “off with their heads!” in Alice in Wonderland, she was ordering her henchmen to decapitate those who had offended her. The verb decapitate comes from Latin de ”away” or “down” and caput “head.” Don’t confuse it with kaput, a German word that means “broken” or destroyed.” Of course, if someone were to decapitate you, you’d be pretty well kaput.