Definition

The act of removing blood from a person's body, often for medical reasons, or a term used to describe the shedding of blood in violence or conflict.

Example

The ancient practice of bloodletting was once believed to cure various illnesses.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of bloodletting as a treatment method?

Yeah, I read about it in a history book; it seems quite extreme.

I know, right? It’s hard to believe people thought it was helpful.

Definitely! Thank goodness we have better medical practices now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bloodletting is formed from "blood" (from Old English "blōd", meaning the red fluid that circulates in the body) and "letting" (from Old English "lætan", meaning to allow or to let go). The term refers to the practice of allowing blood to flow out of the body, historically used as a medical treatment.

Memory Tip

Think of 'blood' as the red fluid in our bodies and 'letting' as allowing it to flow out. This helps you remember that bloodletting means to let blood out of the body.

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