deracinate

[ dih-ras-uh-neyt ]

See synonyms for deracinate on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·rac·i·nat·ed, de·rac·i·nat·ing.

to pull up by the roots; uproot; extirpate; eradicate.
to isolate or alienate (a person) from a native or customary culture or environment.

Origin of deracinate

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French déracin(er), equivalent to dé- + -raciner, verbal derivative of racine “root,” from Late Latin rādīcīna for Latin rādīc-, stem of rādīx + -ate; see origin at dis-¹, root¹, -ate¹

Other words from deracinate

de·rac·i·na·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use deracinate in a sentence

Yes: in a deracinated kind of way, that argument makes sense.
The Merits of Merit Pay | Megan McArdle | September 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
They are not fleeing dramatic scenes of battle, but they are just as deracinated as if they were.
The Forgotten Lives of Refugees | Christopher Dickey | June 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Five minutes later—though my will was well-nigh deracinated in the process—I was its master again.
In Accordance with the Evidence | Oliver Onions
And there sat Sarah Gailey, deracinated and captive, to prove how influential a person Hilda was!
Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
He fondly believes that he is becoming a good American when he is only a deracinated cosmopolitan.
Painted Veils | James Huneker

Later, the renewed presence of the beloved lady renewed the love I thought deracinated.
The Life of Francis Thompson | Everard Meynell
It was one of his strong points that he always kept his mental balance even when his most promising theories were deracinated.
Cleek of Scotland Yard | Thomas W. Hanshew

British Dictionary definitions for deracinate

deracinate

/ (dɪˈræsɪˌneɪt) /

verb(tr)

to pull up by or as if by the roots; uproot; extirpate
to remove, as from a natural environment

Origin of deracinate

C16: from Old French desraciner, from des- dis- 1 + racine root, from Late Latin rādīcīna a little root, from Latin rādīx a root

Derived forms of deracinate

deracination, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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