abscind

transitive verb

ab·​scind

abˈsind

-ed/-ing/-s

: to cut off

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin abscindere "to tear off or away," from ab- ab- entry 1 + scindere "to split, separate, tear apart," going back to Indo-European *sḱhi-n-d-, nasal present formation from the base *sḱhei̯̯d- "split, separate"

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined above

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