decapitare

to behead

verb deh-kah-pee-TAH-reh Rare

Origin: Latin decapitare, from de- + caput (head)

Usage Note

Decapitare takes avere as its auxiliary. It is used both literally (historical executions) and figuratively, as in removing the leadership of an organisation — decapitare un'organizzazione. The noun is decapitazione (f).

Examples

"Il re fu decapitato in piazza."

Natural Translation

The king was beheaded in the square.

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