I.to tear off or away, to rend away (v. preced. art.).
I. Lit.: “tunicam a pectore abscidit,” he tore the tunic down from his breast, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 1: “cervicibus fractis caput abscidit,” cut off, id. Phil. 11, 5.—With simple abl.: “umeris abscindere vestem,” Verg. A. 5, 685; with de, id. G. 2, 23: “nec quidquam deus abscidit terras,” torn asunder, separated, Hor. C. 1, 3, 21; cf. Verg. A. 3, 418; Ov. M. 1, 22 al.: “venas,” to open the veins, Tac. A. 15, 69; 16, 11.—
II. Trop., to cut off, separate, divide (rare): “reditus dulces,” to cut off, Hor. Epod. 16, 35: “inane soldo,” to separate, id. S. 1, 2, 113: “querelas alicujus,” Val. Fl. 2, 160: “jus,” Dig. 28, 2, 9, § 2.
