dē-sĕco, cŭi, ctum, 1,
I v. a., to cut off, cut away (class.): vitem, Varr. R. R. 1, 41, 3: partes ex toto, Cic. Univ. 7: uvas a vite, Col. 12, 43, 1: segetes et prata, id. 11, 1, 8: spicas fascibus, Liv. 42, 64: particulam undique, * Hor. Od. 1, 16, 15; and poet.: saxa metallis, to carve out , Stat. S. 2, 2, 85: hordeum, pabulum, herbas, Caes. B. C. 3, 58, 5; cf. segetem, Liv. 2, 5: aures, Caes. B. G. 7, 4 fin. ; cf. cervicem, Liv. 31, 34: spicas fascibus, id. 31, 34: collum, * Verg. A. 8, 438.—
II Transf.: tu illud (prooemium) desecabis, hos agglutinabis, Cic. Att. 16, 6 fin.