excised
C1Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
to have been cut out or removed, especially by cutting.
to have been removed or deleted from something, such as text, territory, or tissue, often formally or surgically.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often used in legal, medical, literary, and administrative contexts. Implies a precise, deliberate, and often official or professional act of removal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. Usage slightly more common in British English in historical/administrative contexts (e.g., 'excised duties').
Connotations
Generally carries the same formal, precise, and sometimes clinical connotation in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in general speech but stable in specific professional domains in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
excise something (from something)be excised (from something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to officially removing duties or taxes on goods.
Academic
Used for the removal of text, data, or specific sections from a manuscript or analysis.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might be used humorously for cutting something out of a picture.
Technical
Standard term in surgery for cutting away tissue and in film/editing for removing scenes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The surgeon excised the malignant growth with great skill.
- The editor excised three paragraphs from the manuscript to improve clarity.
American English
- The dermatologist excised the suspicious mole for biopsy.
- The censors excised the controversial scene from the film.
adjective
British English
- The excised tissue was sent to the pathology lab.
- The excised chapter was published separately.
American English
- The patient recovered well after the excised tumor was analyzed.
- The excised footage is available on the DVD extras.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The doctor said the lump needs to be excised.
- The controversial paragraph was excised from the final report before publication.
- During the operation, the damaged cartilage was neatly excised.
- The historian argued that the treaty effectively excised that province from the empire's control.
- The director's original cut was over four hours long, but several subplots were excised for the theatrical release.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a precise EXpert using SCISSORS to EXCISE something.
Conceptual Metaphor
REMOVAL IS A SURGICAL CUT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'вырезанный' which can also mean 'carved' or 'cut out' in a craft context; 'excised' is more clinical/official. Avoid using the Russian 'экспортированный' (exported).
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'excised' with 'exorcised' (to drive out a spirit).
- Using it for informal removal (e.g., 'I excised the bad fruit' is overly formal).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'excised' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While common in medicine and surgery, it is also standard in editing (text/film), law (excising clauses or territory), and administration (excising taxes).
'Excised' specifically implies removal by cutting, often in a precise, formal, or professional manner. 'Removed' is the general term and can involve any method (e.g., wiping, unscrewing, pulling).
Yes, commonly as a past participle adjective (e.g., 'the excised tissue', 'an excised scene'). It describes something that has undergone the action of excision.
The noun is 'excision' (e.g., 'The excision of the tumour was successful').