onthoofden

From Middle Dutch onthôveden. Equivalent to modern hoofd (“head”) +‎ ont- -en (privative verb-forming circumfix).

• IPA^(key): /ˌɔntˈɦoːf.də(n)/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: ont‧hoof‧den

onthoofden

(transitive)

1. to behead, decapitate, notably as capital punishment

   Synonym: onthalzen

2. (figuratively) to remove the leadership, the brains etc. (from ...)

   Zonder de voorzitter is de onthoofde raad besluiteloos

   Without its chairman, the headless board is indecisive

• onthoofder
• onthoofding