MACERATE

verb (-ated; -ating) Etymology: Latin maceratus, past participle of macerare to soften, steep Date: 1547 transitive verb to cause to waste away by or as if by excessive fasting, to cause to become soft or separated into constituent elements by or as if by steeping in fluid, intransitive verb to soften and wear away especially as a result of being wetted or steeped, maceration noun macerator noun