Dis*mem"ber (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismembered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dismembering.] [OF. desmembrer, F. démembrer; pref. des- (L. dis) + OF. & F. membre limb. See Member.] 1. To tear limb from limb; to dilacerate; to disjoin member from member; to tear or cut in pieces; to break up.

Fowls obscene dismembered his remains.

A society lacerated and dismembered.

By whose hands the blow should be struck which would dismember that once mighty empire.

2. To deprive of membership. [Obs.]

They were dismembered by vote of the house.

Syn. -- To disjoint; dislocate; dilacerate; mutilate; divide; sever.

• To remove the limbs of
  
• To cut something into pieces
       The killer dismembered the bodies of his victims