dismember

[dis-mem-ber] /dɪsˈmɛm bər/
verb (used with object)
1.
to deprive of limbs; divide limb from limb:
The ogre dismembered his victims before he ate them.
2.
to divide into parts; cut to pieces; mutilate.
3.
to reduce, reorganize, or discontinue the services or parts of (a company, government agency, etc.):
Our business was dismembered by the conglomerate that bought it.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English dismembren < Anglo-French, Old French desmembrer, equivalent to des- dis-1 + -membrer, verbal derivative of membre member
Related forms
dismemberer, noun
dismemberment, noun
nondismemberment, noun
Can be confused
disembodied, disemboweled, dismembered.
Examples from the web for dismember
  • They were threatening to dismember an empire that he had painstakingly built up over five decades.
  • Players use a series of mining tools resembling weapons to dismember and destroy approaching enemies.
  • He might try to dismember an opposing player with a karate kick.
  • The stay also prevents creditors from racing to dismember financially the debtor to the prejudice of other creditors.
  • The powerful, bright yellow hooked bill is used to tear and dismember prey.
British Dictionary definitions for dismember

dismember

/dɪsˈmɛmbə/
verb (transitive)
1.
to remove the limbs or members of
2.
to cut to pieces
3.
to divide or partition (something, such as an empire)
Derived Forms
dismemberer, noun
dismemberment, noun
Word Origin and History for dismember
v.

c.1300, from Old French desmembrer (11c.), from Medieval Latin dismembrare "tear limb from limb; castrate," from Latin de- "take away" + membrum "limb" (see member). Related: Dismembered; dismembering.

dismember in Medicine

dismember dis·mem·ber (dĭs-měm'bər)
v. dis·mem·bered, dis·mem·ber·ing, dis·mem·bers
To amputate a limb or a part of a limb.

dis·mem'ber·ment n.