anatomize

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to analyze a subject, argument, or character in minute detail

   The essay anatomizes the motives behind the failed rebellion.

2. 2
   verb

   to dissect a human, animal, or plant body in order to study its structure

   Early physicians anatomized cadavers to learn how organs were arranged.

From Late Middle English anatomisen, borrowed through Middle French anatomiser or Medieval Latin anatomizare. These forms were built on Latin anatomia, from Greek anatome, 'dissection,' from ana- ('up') + temnein ('to cut'). The figurative sense treats close analysis as intellectual dissection.

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