[f. L. excīs- ppl. stem of excīdĕre to cut out, f. ex- out + cædĕre to cut.]
† 1. trans. To cut off a portion of skin from (a person); = CIRCUMCISE 1. The quots. refer chiefly to an analogous operation upon females.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 168. Such women or girles of Christians that liue in slauery, by price or conquest, are excized forceably.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., Pref. Verse, A 4. There (by erronious wit a trick devis’d) Women are, as an ornament, excis’d. Ibid., xx. 209. The Mahometans of Africa do excise themselves.
2. To cut out (a passage or sentence) from the context; to expunge.
1647. J. Birkenhead, Assembly-Man, To Rdr. They Excis’d what they liked not.
1874. H. R. Reynolds, John Bapt., ii. 68. Marcion excised other portions of the Gospel which contradict his views.
1884. Manch. Exam., 9 April, 5/6. All reference to Ireland shall be excised from the Bill.
3. To cut out (a limb, organ, etc.). Also fig.
1836. Todd, Cycl. Anat., I. 792/2. The heart of a salamander may be excised, and yet the animal will live for several hours.
1875. E. White, Life in Christ, III. xx. (1878), 278. We do not understand how by transgression he [Adam] succeeded in excising one part of his nature.
4. To cut or hollow out; to notch. Chiefly Bot. and Zool.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 31 b. The transuerse Processes of Os sacrum … are excised, and engrauen.
1851. Darwin, Cirripedia, 121. Scutal margin [of Dichelapsis warwicki] deeply excised at a point corresponding with the apex of the scuta.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 102. Vicia sativa … leaflets linear-obovate, obtuse truncate or excised at the tip.
Hence Excised ppl. a.: see 3 and 4.
1866. T. Wright, in Intell. Observ., No. 50. 143. Excised marks and sculptures on stones.
1871. Daily News, 15 Feb., 5/6. On either side of the excised joints.
