scarify

scar·i·fy ¹  (skr-f)

tr.v. scar·i·fied, scar·i·fy·ing, scar·i·fies

1.

a. To make shallow cuts in (the skin), as when vaccinating.

b. To create a design on (the skin) by means of shallow cuts that are sometimes rubbed with a colorant or irritant to enhance the resulting scar tissue.

2. To break up the surface of (topsoil or pavement).

3. To distress deeply, as with severe criticism; lacerate.

4. Botany To slit or soften the outer coat of (seeds) in order to speed germination.

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[Middle English scarifien, from Old French scarifier, from Late Latin scarficre, alteration of Latin scarfre, from Greek skarphsthai, to sketch, scratch, from skarphos, pencil, stylus; see skrbh- in Indo-European roots.]

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scari·fi·cation (-f-kshn) n.

scari·fier n.

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scarify

Verb

[-fies, -fying, -fied]

1. Surgery to make slight incisions in (the skin)

2. Agriculture to break up and loosen (topsoil)

3. to criticize without mercy [Latin scarifare to scratch open]

scarification n

USAGE: Scarify is sometimes wrongly thought to mean the same as scare: a frightening (not scarifying) film.

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	scarify - puncture and scar (the skin), as for purposes or tribal identification or rituals; "The men in some African tribes scarify their faces" puncture - pierce with a pointed object; make a hole into; "puncture a tire"
	2.	scarify - scratch the surface of; "scarify seeds" nock, score, mark - make small marks into the surface of; "score the clay before firing it"
	3.	scarify - break up; "scarify soil" loosen - make less dense; "loosen the soil"