French Conversation · Level 130
46 words
French word
décapiter
Pronunciation
IPA/dekapite/
Meaning
- verbbehead
Example
Le roi a décapité son ennemi.
The king beheaded his enemy.
More examples
La restructuration a décapité plusieurs cadres supérieurs.
The restructuring has beheaded several senior executives.
Core concept
The head is cut away from the body in a single decisive act, with the person becoming headless.
Similar words
tuer: To kill a person.
couper: To separate an object or body part by cutting it with a blade.
assassiner: To carry out a planned killing of someone.
exécuter: To execute someone under a legal decision or official command.
Definition in French
Couper la tête d'une personne, c'est-à-dire séparer la tête du corps ; verbe transitif.
Word origin
Décapiter developed from Late Latin decapitare, whose parts are de- 'away' and caput or capit- 'head', with the Latin form adapted into French.
Usage tips
- Décapiter is a formal term used especially in historical or journalistic contexts, while its figurative use can mean removing an organization's leader.
Opposites
- sauversaveverb