démembrer

Senses

1. 1.

   to dismember

   to cut off or separate the limbs from a body

2. 2.

   to break up, to dismantle

   to divide a territory, organization, or unified whole into separate parts

Examples

• "Le corps a été démembré et dispersé dans plusieurs endroits."

  The body was dismembered and scattered in several locations.

• "L'empire a été démembré après la défaite militaire."

  The empire was broken up after the military defeat.

• "Ils ont voulu démembrer la compagnie en vendant ses divisions."

  They wanted to dismantle the company by selling off its divisions.

Usage

A formal, serious verb used in both literal (anatomy, crime) and figurative (political, organizational) contexts. Common in historical and legal discourse.