vivisect

American  

[viv-uh-sekt, viv-uh-sekt] / ˈvɪv əˌsɛkt, ˌvɪv əˈsɛkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to dissect the living body of (an animal).

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verb (used without object)

1. to practice vivisection.

vivisect British  

/ ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkt, ˈvɪvɪˌsɛkt /

verb

1. to subject (an animal) to vivisection

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Other Word Forms

• self-vivisector noun
• vivisector noun

Etymology

Origin of vivisect

First recorded in 1860–65; back formation from vivisection

Example Sentences

Presumably they believe it’s OK to vivisect quotations because the reader can always go to their footnotes and look up the original text to see what it actually says.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2021

There’s already a mythologized version of her, frothed up by journalists eager to vivisect a prodigy, turn her into a Thing.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2020

His sympathy for Ahmanet is well-established in the movie, and so is his distrust for Prodigium, which tortures her and plans to vivisect her.

From The Verge • Jun. 13, 2017

It occurred to me that it wasn't fair for Rob to vivisect his laptop for me and not get the same courtesy in return.

From Washington Post • Jun. 13, 2010

I could no more have spoken unkindly to her than I could vivisect a humming-bird.

From The Gates Between by Phelps, Elizabeth Stuart