transitive verb scarified -·fied′, scarifying -·fy′·ing

1. to make a series of small, superficial incisions or punctures in (the skin), as in surgery
2. to criticize sharply; make cutting remarks to or about
3. Agric.
   1. to loosen or stir (the topsoil)
   2. to make incisions in the coats of (seeds) in order to hasten germination

Etymology: MFr scarifier < LL scarificare, altered < L scarifare < Gr skariphasthai, to scratch an outline, sketch < skariphos, pencil, stylus, akin to L scribere, to write: see scribe