Lewis & Short

ex -sĕco (also exĕco and exĭco, Plaut. Rud. 1, 2, 34), cŭi, ctum, 1 (perf. subj. exsecaveris, Cato, R. R. 42), v. a., to cut out or away.

  1. I. Lit. (class.).
    1. A. In gen.: vitiosas partes, Cic. Att. 2, 1, 7: pestem aliquam tamquam strumam civitatis, id. Sest. 65, 135: linguam, id. Clu. 66: cornu (frontis), Hor. S. 1, 5, 59: varices, Sen. Ep. 78 med.: fetum ventri, Plin. 8, 55, 81, § 217: ventrem, Dig. 28, 2, 12: filium alicui mortuae, ib. 50, 16, 132: nervos, Cic. Agr. 2, 33, 91: fundum armarii, id. Clu. 64, 179.
    2. B. In partic., to cut, castrate, geld: vetus haec opinio Graeciam opplevit exsectum Caelum a filio Saturno, Cic. N. D. 2, 24, 63; Suet. Ner. 28; Mart. 6, 2, 2; and in a Greek construction: infelix ferro mollita juventus Atque exsecta virum, Luc. 10, 134.
  2. II. Trop.: exsectus et exemptus honoribus senatoriis, Plin. Ep. 2, 12, 3.
    Poet., of interest: quinas hic capiti mercedes exsecat (= extorquet, extundit), cuts out, deducts, Hor. S. 1, 2, 14.