🇩🇪German Source WordCode: DE

ritzen

Pronunciation / Transliteration: ˈʁɪt.sn̩

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Scarify/ˈskɛər.ɪ.faɪ/
verbCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
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🇩🇪 Example Sentence in German:

"Man sollte den Rasen im Frühjahr vertikutieren und ritzen."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To make superficial cuts or scratches in the skin, typically for medical or ritualistic purposes.

    "The traditional healer used a sterile blade to scarify the patient's arm."
  2. 2

    To break up the surface of soil or remove moss and dead grass from a lawn.

    "Gardeners often scarify lawns in the autumn to improve water and nutrient absorption."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Late Middle English 'scarifien', originating from Old French 'scarifier', and ultimately from Late Latin 'scarificare', meaning to scratch or lacerate. The root traces back to the Greek 'skariphasthai', meaning to sketch or scratch lightly with a stylus, later evolving in medical and agricultural contexts to denote making superficial cuts or incisions.

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