from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Macerate \Mac"er*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Macerated}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Macerating}.] [L. maceratus, p. p. of macerare to
make soft, weaken, enervate; cf. Gr. ? to knead.]
1. To make lean; to cause to waste away. [Obs. or R.]
--Harvey.
[1913 Webster]
2. To subdue the appetites of by poor and scanty diet; to
mortify. --Baker.
[1913 Webster]
3. To soften by steeping in a liquid, with or without heat;
to wear away or separate the parts of by steeping; as, to
macerate animal or vegetable fiber.
[1913 Webster]