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scarify (v.)
late 14c., scarifien, "make shallow incisions in (the body) to let blood or drain pus," from Old French scarifier "score, scrape" leather or hide (14c.), from Late Latin scarificare, from Latin scarifare "scratch open," from Greek skariphasthai "to scratch an outline, sketch," from skariphos "pencil, stylus" (from PIE root *skribh- "to cut, separate, sift").
By mid-15c. of tree trunks. The meaning "cover with scars" (1680s) is a sense-shift from influence of scar (v.). Related: Scarified; scarifier; scarifying.
updated on January 19, 2022
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Definitions of scarify from WordNet
Dictionary entries near scarify
scarecrow
scared
scare-monger
scarf
scarification
scarify
scarily
scarious
scarlatina
scarlet
scarp