deracinate

verb

de·​rac·​i·​nate (ˌ)dē-ˈra-sə-ˌnāt 

deracinated; deracinating

transitive verb

1

: uproot

2

: to remove or separate from a native environment or culture

especially : to remove the racial or ethnic characteristics or influences from

deracination

(ˌ)dē-ˌra-sə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

Did you know?

Get to the Root of Deracinate

There is a hint about the roots of deracinate in its first definition. Deracinate was borrowed into English in the late 16th century from Middle French and can be traced back to the Latin word radix, meaning "root." Although deracinate began life referring to literal plant roots, it quickly took on a second, metaphorical, meaning suggesting removal of anyone or anything from native roots or culture. Other offspring of radix include eradicate ("to pull up by the roots" or "to do away with as completely as if by pulling up by the roots") and radish (the name for a crisp, edible root). Though the second sense of deracinate mentions racial characteristics and influence, the words racial and race derive from razza, an Italian word of uncertain origin.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Vines were deracinated by panicked merlot viticulturists. —Rex Pickett, Town & Country, 16 Dec. 2012

Word History

Etymology

Middle French desraciner, from des- de- + racine root, from Late Latin radicina, from Latin radic-, radix — more at root

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!