Decapitate Definition

dĭ-kăpĭ-tāt
decapitated, decapitates, decapitating
verb
decapitated, decapitates, decapitating
To cut off the head of; behead.
Webster's New World
To remove or destroy that part regarded as essential to the operation of.
To decapitate a terrorist cell.
Webster's New World
To destroy or incapacitate (a government or organization, for example) by killing or removing its leader or leaders.
American Heritage

Origin of Decapitate

  • Late Latin dēcapitāre dēcapitāt- Latin dē- de- Latin caput capit- head kaput- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French décapiter, from Late Latin decapitare, from de- + caput.

    From Wiktionary

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