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View synonyms for scarify

scarify

[ skar-uh-fahy ]

verb (used with object)

, scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing.
  1. to make scratches or superficial incisions in (the skin), to produce an immune response or administer certain injections:

    The smallpox vaccine, which was administered by scarifying the skin, left a telltale scar on the upper arm.

    During the therapeutic procedure of wet cupping, the practitioner scarifies the skin after suction.

  2. to scratch, etch, cut, or burn designs or images into the skin in order to create permanent decorative or symbolic scars.
  3. to lacerate by severe criticism.
  4. to loosen (the soil) with a type of cultivator.
  5. to hasten the sprouting of (hard-covered seeds) by making incisions in the seed coats.
  6. to break up (a road surface).


scarify

1

/ ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ /

verb

  1. informal.
    tr to make scared; frighten
“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


scarify

2

/ ˈskærɪ-; ˈskɛərɪˌfaɪ /

verb

  1. surgery to make tiny punctures or superficial incisions in (the skin or other tissue), as for inoculating
  2. agriculture
    1. to break up and loosen (soil) to a shallow depth
    2. to scratch or abrade the outer surface of (seeds) to increase water absorption or hasten germination
  3. to wound with harsh criticism
“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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Usage

Scarify is sometimes wrongly thought to mean the same as scare: a frightening (not scarifying ) film
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Derived Forms

  • ˈscariˌfyingly, adverb
  • ˌscarifiˈcation, noun
  • ˈscariˌfier, noun
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Other Words From

  • scar·i·fi·er noun
  • un·scar·i·fied adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scarify1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English scarifien, from Middle French scarifier, scarefier, from Late Latin scarīficāre, alteration of Latin scarīfāre, scarīphāre “to make scratches, scrach,” from Greek skarīphâsthai “to sketch,” derivative of skárīphos “stylus”; -ify
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scarify1

C18: from scare + -ify

Origin of scarify2

C15: via Old French from Latin scarīfāre to scratch open, from Greek skariphasthai to draw, from skariphos a pencil
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Example Sentences

Dickens is going to put an article on the subject in Household Words, in order to scarify the rascally bookseller.

To relieve their wearied legs and feet after long marches, they scarify the former with sharp flints.

When fatigued by travel they scarify their legs with a sharpened reed or snakes' teeth.

His political jingles were the delight or vexation of partisans as they happened to ridicule or scarify this side or that.

Incapable of checking a witty saying, he would scarify his two neighbors before a dinner was half over.

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scarificatorscarious