bloodletting

Meaning

Noun

1. (historical) The archaic practice of treating illness by removing some blood, believed to be tainted, from the stricken person.
2. (broadly) The diminishment of any resource with the hope that this will lead to a positive effect.
3. A circumstance, such as a battle, where a large amount of blood is likely to be spilled through violence.

Verb

present participle and gerund of bloodlet

bloodlet

To bleed; let blood; phlebotomise.

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Synonyms

phlebotomy

bleed

🩸

bloodshed

battue

bloodbath

exsanguination

collect

bleeding

🩸

blood-letting

massacre

indentation

carnage

let blood

exsanguinating

blootletting

Translations

saignée

sagnia

Aderlass

Blutvergießen

bain de sang

salasso

🩸

sangría

αφαίμαξη

aderlating

massacre

hécatombe

aimatochisía

فصاد

αίμα άκυρο σέρβις

Etymology

From blood + letting, equal to bloodlet + -ing.