to tear away or apart, as distinguished from cut or dissect
Word origin
[1595–1605; ‹ L dīvulsus (ptp. of dīvellere), equiv. to dī-di-2 + vulsus plucked (ptp. of vellere)]This word is first recorded in the period 1595–1605. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: detail, option, redundant, slur, vernacular