cut off Copy link Outline I. Lit.1. praecīdo, 3 (strictly to c. off the end of something)2. abscīdo, 3 (rare, and often confused with abscindo in MSS.)3. abscindo, scĭdi, scissum, 3 (to c. or tear forcibly away)4. ampŭto, 15. dēcīdo, 3 (less freq.)6. dēsĕco, 17. rĕcīdo, 3II. To destroy completely or suddenly1. exstinguo, nxi, nctum, 32. occŭpo, 1 (with suddenness)3. pĕrĭmo, intĕrĭmo4. (in pass.)III. To intercept, cut off communication1. interclūdo, si, sum, 3 (with acc. and dat.; or acc. and abl.)2. exclūdo, 3 (with acc. and abl.)3. (less freq.)4. prŏhĭbeo, 2 • cut off: I. Lit.: 1. praecīdo, 3 (strictly to c. off the end of something): to c. off any one's tongue, linguam alicui p., Hirt.: to c. off the hands, manus p., Hirt.: to c. off any one's head, ears, nose, alicujus caput, aures, nasum p., Petr.: Just.: to c. off (the end of) a whetstone, cotem p., Cic.: cf. to cut (II., fin.). 2. abscīdo, 3 (rare, and often confused with abscindo in MSS.): to c. off a head, caput a., Virg.; with the right hand c. off, abscisâ dextrâ, Suet. Fig.: to c. off hope, spem a., Liv. 3. abscindo, scĭdi, scissum, 3 (to c. or tear forcibly away): c.ing away shoots from the parent trunk, plantas abscindens de corpore matrum, Virg.: Xerxes cut off Athos from the mainland, Xerxes Athon continenti abscidit, Plin.: Hor. 4. ampŭto, 1: to c. off a (dead) man's head, caput a., Suet.: to c. off a person's hand, alicui manus a., id. 5. dēcīdo, 3 (less freq.): to c. off (clip) wings, pennas d., Hor.: Tac. 6. dēsĕco, 1: to c. off hairs, crines d., Ov.: ears c. off, aures desectae, Caes. 7. rĕcīdo, 3: v. cut away. Phr.: to c. off a man's head, alicujus collum secare, Q. Cic.; caput ense demetere, Hor.: Ov.; caput detruncare, Ov. (also detrunco with acc. of person: Val. Fl.). II. To destroy completely or suddenly: 1. exstinguo, nxi, nctum, 3: to be c. off the sooner, maturius exstingui, Cic.; in the prime of life, primo exstingui in aevo, Ov.: he was c. off by disease, eum morbo fortuna extinxit, Liv. 2. occŭpo, 1 (with suddenness): being off his guard he (Caesar) was c. off by ungrateful men, incautus ab ingratis occupatus est, Vell. 3. pĕrĭmo, intĕrĭmo: v. to destroy. 4. (in pass.): pĕreo, intĕreo, 4, irr.: the whole army would be c. off, totum exercitum periturum, Nep.: Liv.: to be c. off by disease, morbo perire, Hirt.: v. perish. See also to extirpate, exterminate. III. To intercept, cut off communication: 1. interclūdo, si, sum, 3 (with acc. and dat.; or acc. and abl.): to c. off the enemies' supplies, inimicis commeatum int., Pl.; [hostes] commeatibus int., Caes. (the abl. is usual in this sense): also with prep. a commeatu omni adversarios int., Caes.: Liv. 2. exclūdo, 3 (with acc. and abl.): to c. any one off from (joining) another, aliquem ab aliquo ex., Pomp. ap. Cic.: to c. off any one's return, aliquem reditu ex., Nep.: Caes. 3. (less freq.): claudo, 3: to c. off the enemies' retreat, hostibus fugam c., Liv. 4. prŏhĭbeo, 2: v. to prevent, keep off.