stumpify
English edit
Etymology edit
Verb edit
stumpify (third-person singular simple present stumpifies, present participle stumpifying, simple past and past participle stumpified)
- (transitive) To turn into a stump.
- 1861, Winthrop Sargent, The Life and Career of Major John André, page 20:
- I sympathize in your resentment against the canonical Dons, who stumpify the heads of those good green people, beneath whose friendly shade so many of your happiest hours have glided away, — but they defy them; let them stumpify as much as they please, time will repair the mischief, — their verdant arms will again extend, and invite you to their shelter.
- 1939, William Wordsworth, Dorothy Wordsworth, Ernest De Selincourt, The letters of William and Dorothy Wordsworth:
- They are some of the finest old stumpified staring trees I ever saw, with a small waterfall, rocks of all shapes &c &c.
- 1997 March 23, Fle...@aol.com, “Pruning Prunus”, in rec.arts.bonsai (Usenet):
- This particular tree is being stumpified due to its unacceptable branching at present-- its saving grace is a tremendous trunk bole and surface roots, which is why I originally bought it.
- 2006 June 9, Userb3, “Ankle straps unflattering?”, in alt.fashion (Usenet):
- I find ankle straps sexy as all get out, and don't think they stumpify the leg at all.
- (transitive) To baffle; to completely puzzle.