dilaniare

to tear apart

verb dee-lah-NYAH-reh Rare

Origin: From Latin dilaniari, to tear to pieces.

Also means

to rend

Usage Note

Dilaniare conveys violent tearing — of flesh by an animal, or figuratively of a community torn apart by conflict: una famiglia dilaniata dal dolore. It takes avere as its auxiliary. Strong or literary register.

Examples

"Il leone ha dilaniato la preda."

Natural Translation

The lion tore the prey apart.

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