— lacerable , adj. — lacerability /las'euhr euh bil"i tee/ , n. — lacerative /las"euh ray'tiv, -euhr euh tiv/ , adj.
v. /las"euh rayt'/ ; adj. /las"euh rayt', -euhr it/ , v. , lacerated, lacerating , adj.
v.t.
1. to tear roughly; mangle: The barbed wire lacerated his hands.
2. to distress or torture mentally or emotionally; wound deeply; pain greatly: His bitter criticism lacerated my heart.
adj.
3. lacerated.
[ 1535-45; laceratus, ptp. of lacerare to tear up (deriv. of lacer mangled); see -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. rend. See maim .