— dismemberer , n. — dismemberment , n.
/dis mem"beuhr/ , v.t.
1. 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.
[ 1250-1300; ME dismembren desmembrer, equiv. to des- DIS- 1 + -membrer, v. deriv. of membre MEMBER ]