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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Scarify

Scarify \Scar"i*fy\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Scarified; p. pr. & vb. n. Scarifying.] [F. scarifier, L. scarificare, scarifare, fr. Gr. ? to scratch up, fr. ? a pointed instrument.]

  1. To scratch or cut the skin of; esp. (Med.), to make small incisions in, by means of a lancet or scarificator, so as to draw blood from the smaller vessels without opening a large vein.

  2. (Agric.) To stir the surface soil of, as a field.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
scarify

mid-15c., "make incisions in the bark of a tree," from Middle French scarifier "score, scrape" (leather or hide), 14c., from Late Latin scarificare (see scarification). The sense "cover with scars" (1680s) is a sense-shift from influence of scar (v.). Related: Scarified; scarifier; scarifying.

Wiktionary
scarify

vb. 1 (context obsolete or nonstandard English) To scar. 2 (context obsolete or nonstandard English) denude, or lay waste to. 3 (context horticulture English) To remove thatch (build-up of organic matter on the soil) from a lawn, to dethatch. 4 (context horticulture English) To damage the testa (seed coat) of a seed by cutting, scraping, chemicals, hot water, or fire to allow permeation of water and faster germination.

WordNet
scarify
  1. v. puncture and scar (the skin), as for purposes or tribal identification or rituals; "The men in some African tribes scarify their faces"

  2. scratch the surface of; "scarify seeds"

  3. break up; "scarify soil"

  4. [also: scarified]

Usage examples of "scarify".

This may be done by tightly applying bandages above the wound and scarifying or sucking the parts.

Some there were among them, however, who, feeling perhaps a hint of rebellion upon the part of overdriven muscles, cut switches from ready mesquite and lashed recalcitrant legs until they bled, scarifying them to renewed life and vitality.

Nom Anor reflected idly how well some of those intricately scarified designs would look on his own face.

Upon that generous-rounding side, With gullies scarified Where keen Neglect his lash hath plied, Dwelt one I knew of old, who played at toil, And gave to coquette Cotton soul and soil.

The moisture, combining with her juices, trickled down her scarified thighs.

Jacky Tar, the son of a gun, who was conceived of unholy boast, born of the fighting navy, suffered under rump and dozen, was scarified, flayed and curried, yelled like bloody hell, the third day he arose again from the bed, steered into haven, sitteth on his beamend till further orders whence he shall come to drudge for a living and be paid.

Even allowing this fantastical reflection, who would not chuse to encrease the present pain for a moment, under the assurance of putting an end to it, as we scarify a wound in order to heal it?

As I walked back and forth, stowing the necessaries I had brought along, I kept seeing unexpected reflections of myself out of the corner of my eye, a brown slab of meat piled higher than is customary, the stride a loose-jointed shamble -knuckly scarified McGee-san, hoping that all dragons which need slaying will be the size of cocker spaniels, with their teeth and claws worn down from chawing bolder knights, their fiery halitosis fresh out of flints and fluid.

Laying the full weight of her body on the helpless nude, the minx rammed the dildo in hard, crushing both clits while the atrocious barbs round the teats scarified the victim's breasts No slave was ever the same after one of those interludes, despite the fierce climaxes and even if later Simone did soothe the breasts and crotch with calamine mixed with sperm.

The concrete walls offered little insulation from the weather outside, and there was a distinct chill in the room, yet her scarified skin, the belly rings she had, and the serpentlike tattoos that encircled her waist, were exposed to that chill, and she shivered not at all.

Abraham, we are informed, was commanded by God to offer up his firstborn son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice, and was on the point of obeying the divine command, when God, content with this proof of his faith and obedience, substituted for the human victim a ram, which Abraham accordingly scarified instead of his son.

Her scarified and tattooed body had always fascinated him and he could see she was excited.

From the darkness Johnson's body slave slipped across the room, her magnificent scarified body glittering in the fire light.

The hall was full of scarified Yuuzhan Vong warriors standing rigidly at attention, weapons extended in present arms.

Bay stopped abruptly and his scarified features creased into a frown, as he turned his head, slowly questing all around, like a hunting dog with the scent of game in his nostrils.