amputate

t. [In Dan. amputere; Fr. amputer; Port. amputar; Lat. amputo, -ανί, -atum; puto to prune, to cleanse. From the root pu, in Latin pur us; Sansc. pû = to purify.] 1. Surgery: To cut off. (Used especially of a limb, or the portion of a limb.) "Amongst the cruisers it was complained that their surgeons were too active in amputating fractured members."-Wiseman: Surgery . 2. Gardening: To prune trees. ăm-pu-tā-těd, pa . par . & a. [AMPUTATE.] ăm-pu-tă-ting, pr . par . , a . , . [AMPUTATE.] ăm-pu-ta-tion, s. Eng. amputate ; -ion.] In Ger. & Fr. amputation ; Port. amputaçao ; Ital. am put azione ; all from Lat. amputatio = a cutting or lopping off; amputo to cut away or off.] 1. Surgery: The act of cutting off a limb, or a portion of a limb. " Amputation is not unfrequently advisable in order to prevent the occurrence of gangrene."- Miller : Surgery (1964), р. 149. 2. Gardening: The pruning or dre ing of vines, . ( Dyche, 1758.)