expeditate

transitive verb

ex·​ped·​i·​tate
ekˈspedəˌtāt,
ik-
-ed/-ing/-s
: to cut off three claws or the ball of each forefoot of (a dog) so as to prevent the chasing of deer
the mastiffs which were expeditated … were allowed to be kept in the forest without a special licenseNicholas Biddle

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin expeditatus, past participle of expeditare, from Latin ex- ex- entry 1 + Medieval Latin -peditare (from Latin ped-, pes foot)

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near expeditate

Cite this Entry

“Expeditate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expeditate. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!