I.to extirpate, destroy (syn.: delere, evertere, vastare).
I. Lit. (class.): “templum sanctitatis, etc. ... inflammari, exscindi, funestari,” Cic. Mil. 33, 90; cf. id. Planc. 41, 97; id. Phil. 4, 5, 13; id. Rep. 6, 11; Sall. H. 4, 61, 17; Liv. 28, 44, 2; 44, 27, 5: “Pergama Argolicis telis,” Verg. A. 2, 177: “domos,” id. ib. 12, 643: “ferro sceleratam gentem,” id. ib. 9, 137: “hostem,” Tac. A. 2, 25.—
II. Trop., to tear away: fortine animam hanc exscindere dextra indignum est visum? Sil. 4, 674. (In Plin. Pan. 34, 2, read excidisti).