Dictionary

1scarify

transitive verb scar·i·fy \ˈsker-ə-ˌfī\
scar·i·fiedscar·i·fy·ing

Definition of SCARIFY

1
:  to make scratches or small cuts in (as the skin) <scarify an area for vaccination>
2
:  to lacerate the feelings of
3
:  to break up, loosen, or roughen the surface of (as a field or road)
4
:  to cut or soften the wall of (a hard seed) to hasten germination
scar·i·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun
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Origin of SCARIFY

Middle English scarifien, from Middle French scarefier, from Late Latin scarificare, alteration of Latin scarifare, from Greek skariphasthai to scratch an outline, sketch — more at scribe
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with SCARIFY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify

2scarify

transitive verb
scarifiedscarify·ing

Definition of SCARIFY

scar·i·fy·ing·ly \-ˌfī-iŋ-lē\ adverb

First Known Use of SCARIFY

1785
Medical Dictionary

scarify

transitive verb scar·i·fy \ˈskar-ə-ˌfī, ˈsker-\
scar·i·fiedscar·i·fy·ing

Medical Definition of SCARIFY

:  to make scratches or small cuts in (as the skin) <scarify an area for vaccination>

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Next Word in the Dictionary: scarinessPrevious Word in the Dictionary: scarificatorAll Words Near: scarify
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