Definition of mutilate

The origin of the word "mutilate" can be traced back to the Latin word "mutilatus," which meant "mutilated" or "disabled." The Latin term was derived from the verb "mutilare," which meant "to cut off limbs or parts of the body." The Latin word "mutilatus" was adopted by the Old French language, where it was spelled "mutiler" or "mutiler" and was used as both a noun and a verb. The Old French word passed through Middle English and eventually made its way into Modern English as "mutilate" around the 15th century. Today, the word "mutilate" is defined as "to disfigure by cutting off or injuring a part" or "to deprive of essential qualifications or elements." Its harsh and negative connotation reflects its origins in the Latin verb, which conveyed a sense of disability and disfigurement that still prevails in its modern usage.