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cauterize

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cau⋅ter⋅ize

[kaw-tuh-rahyz]
–verb (used with object), -ized, -iz⋅ing.
to burn with a hot iron, electric current, fire, or a caustic, esp. for curative purposes; treat with a cautery.
Also, especially British, cau⋅ter⋅ise.


Origin:
1350–1400; ME < LL cautērizāre to brand, equiv. to cautēr- (< Gk kautr branding iron, equiv. to kau-, var. s. of kaíein to burn (cf. caustic ), + -tēr agent suffix) + -izāre -ize


cau⋅ter⋅i⋅za⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cauterize
cau·ter·ize   (kô'tə-rīz')   
tr.v.   cau·ter·ized, cau·ter·iz·ing, cau·ter·iz·es
  1. To burn or sear with a cautery.

  2. To deaden, as to feelings or moral scruples; callous.


[Middle English cauterizen, from Late Latin cautērizāre, to cauterize, brand, from Latin cautērium, cautery; see cautery.]
cau'ter·i·za'tion (-tər-ĭ-zā'shən) n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

cauterize 
1541, from M.Fr. cauteriser, from L.L. cauterizare "to burn or brand with a hot iron," from Gk. kauteriazein, from kauter "burning or branding iron," from kaiein "to burn."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: cau·ter·ize
Variant: or British cau·ter·ise /'kot-&-"rIz/
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms:-ized or British -ised; -iz·ing or British -is·ing
: to sear with a cautery or caustic —cau·ter·iza·tion or British cau·ter·isa·tion /"kot-&-r&-'zA-sh&n/ noun
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

cauterize cau·ter·ize (kô'tə-rīz')
v. cau·ter·ized, cau·ter·iz·ing, cau·ter·iz·es
To burn or sear with a cautery.


cau'ter·i·za'tion (-tər-ĭ-zā'shən) n.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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