Main Entry:

¹lac·er·ate

Pronunciation:

\ˈla-sə-ˌrāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

lac·er·at·ed; lac·er·at·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin laceratus, past participle of lacerare to tear; akin to Greek lakis tear

Date:

15th century

1 : to tear or rend roughly : wound jaggedly 2 : to cause sharp mental or emotional pain to : distress

— lac·er·a·tive \-ˌrā-tiv\ adjective