tr.v. de·cap·i·tat·ed, de·cap·i·tat·ing, de·cap·i·tates 1. To cut off the head of; behead. 2. To destroy or incapacitate (a government or organization, for example) by killing or removing its leader or leaders. [Late Latin dēcapitāre, dēcapitāt- : Latin dē-, de- + Latin caput, capit-, head; see kaput- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] de·cap′i·tation n. de·capi·ta′tor n. |
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