scarify

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 17, 2008 is: scarify • \SKAIR-uh-fye\ • verb 1 : to make scratches or small cuts in (as the skin) 2 : to lacerate the feelings of 3 : to cut or soften the wall of (a hard seed) to hasten germination Examples: The gardening handbook recommends scarifying the seeds before planting them. Did you know? You get two words for the price of one with "scarify." The first "scarify" appeared in English in the 14th century with the meaning "to make scratches or cuts in" and later developed a figurative application of "cutting" someone emotionally. This word is ultimately derived from a Greek word meaning "to scratch an outline." The second homograph turned up in print in 1785 and gained currency in the 20th century. This "scarify" was formed by combining "scare" with "-ify," possibly as a combination of "scare" and "terrify," and it predictably means "to scare or frighten." Neither "scarify" is terribly common these days, but they do turn up on occasion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.