mutilate
UK[ˈmjuːtɪleɪt]US[ˈmjuːtəleɪt]
v
to damage severely, especially by violently removing a part.
v
to make imperfect by removing or destroying parts.
Morpheme Breakdown
mutil
ate
mutil
maimed
ate
verb suffix
Etymology
the word 'mutilate' entered english in the 16th century from the latin past participle mutilatus, which derives from the verb mutilare, meaning 'to cut off' or 'to lop'. this latin verb itself comes from the adjective mutilus, signifying 'maimed' or 'mutilated'. the core semantic thread from its latin origins to modern english is the concept of rendering something incomplete or imperfect by cutting off or destroying a part, a meaning that has remained remarkably consistent. the suffix '-ate' is a common latinate verb-forming element that was attached to the root to create the english verb.
Analysis
Structure: mutil (maimed) + ate (verb suffix)
mutil originates from latin mutilus, meaning maimed or mutilated. ate is a verb-forming suffix of latin origin.
Examples
the vandals proceeded to mutilate the priceless statue.
censors sometimes mutilate a film by cutting out crucial scenes.
the document had been mutilated, with several key pages torn out.