Definition of: scarify

(skar′ə·fī) v.t. ·fled, ·fy·ing
1. To scratch or make slight incisions in, as the skin in surgery.
2. To criticize severely; make cutting comments on.
3. Agric. To stir the surface of, as soil.
4. To prune. [<MF scarifier <LL scarificare <L scarifare <Gk. skariphasthai scratch an outline, sketch <skariphos a stylus]
—scar′i·fi·ca′tion noun