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 Englishdismembren < Anglo-French,Old Frenchdesmembrer, equivalent to des-dis-1 + -membrer, verbal derivative of membremember