Category:Dismember

Dis*mem"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismembered; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismembering.] Etym: [OF. desmembrer, F. démembrer; pref. des- (L. dis) + OF. & F. membre limb. See Member.]

1. To tear limb from limb; to dilacerate; to disjoin member from member; to tear or cut in pieces; to break up. Fowls obscene dismembered his remains. Pope. A society lacerated and dismembered. Gladstone. By whose hands the blow should be struck which would dismember that once mighty empire. Buckle.

2. To deprive of membership. [Obs.] They were dismembered by vote of the house. R. North.

Syn. -- To disjoint; dislocate; dilacerate; mutilate; divide; sever.