Exsanguinate

/ɛkˈsæŋɡwɪneɪt/ verb

Definition

To drain blood from a body or organism; to remove or lose blood to the point of severe weakness or death.

Etymology

From Latin exsanguinatus, past participle of exsanguinare (ex- 'thoroughly' + sanguinis 'blood'). Medical term that entered English in the 17th century for bloodletting procedures.

Kelly Says

Exsanguinate sounds like a horror movie term, but it's actually standard medical vocabulary used in surgery—surgeons exsanguinate a limb before operating to keep the surgical field blood-free and visible.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.