Adjacent Words

Behead definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

BEHEAD', v.t. behed'. [be and head.]
To cut off the head; to sever the head from the body, with a cutting instrument; appropriately used of the execution of men for crimes.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: cut the head of; "the French King was beheaded during the Revolution" [syn: decapitate, behead, decollate]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Date: before 12th century to cut off the head of ; decapitate

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 cut off the head of (a person), esp. as a form of execution. 2 kill by beheading. Etymology: OE beheafdian (as BE-, heafod HEAD)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Behead Be*head", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beheaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beheading.] [OE. bihefden, AS. behe['a]fdian; pref. be- + he['a]fod head. See Head.] To sever the head from; to take off the head of.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(beheads, beheading, beheaded) If someone is beheaded, their head is cut off, usually because they have been found guilty of a crime. Charles I was beheaded by the Cromwellians. = decapitate VERB: usu passive, be V-ed

Easton's Bible Dictionary

a method of taking away life practised among the Egyptians (Gen. 40:17-19). There are instances of this mode of punishment also among the Hebrews (2 Sam. 4:8; 20:21,22; 2 Kings 10:6-8). It is also mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 14:8-12; Acts 12:2).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. Decapitate, decollate, deprive of the head.