exarate

Exarate is a rare English verb meaning to carve, engrave, or inscribe on a surface, especially stone, metal, or parchment. The usage is chiefly historical or technical, appearing in epigraphic descriptions, art-historical writing, and some medieval texts. In modern English, exarate is generally considered archaic or literary, with more common alternatives being inscribe, engrave, or carve.

Etymology and history: The exact origin of exarate is obscure and it is not widely attested in contemporary dictionaries. It appears sporadically in older literature and scholarly works dealing with inscriptions or decorative stonework, where it served as a precise term for cutting or incising letters, figures, or motifs.

Usage: In practice, exarate is encountered mainly in specialized contexts. A typical usage would describe an artisan exarating an inscription into a metal plaque or a stele. Because the term is rare, it is advisable to use more common synonyms unless historical diction or precision is required.

See also: Inscribe, Engrave, Carve, Epigraphy.