Vivisection
/ˌvɪvɪˈsɛkʃən/noun
The cutting into or dissection of a living organism, especially for scientific research.
Did you know?Although vivisection is associated with modern laboratory science, its Latin components—vivus, “alive,” and secare, “to cut”—made the word an explicit description of living dissection.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeyh₃-
“To live; the ancestral root behind Latin vivus and English words connected with life”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sek-
“To cut; the ancient root behind Latin secare and later cutting-related words”
Classical Latin
Latin
vivus
“Alive or living”
Classical Latin
Latin
sectio
“A cutting, division, or dissection, from secare, “to cut””
18th Century
English
vivisection
“The dissection or surgical operation of a living animal, a term used in scientific and ethical debates”
Modern English
English
vivisection
“The cutting into a living organism, especially for experimental purposes”