bloodletting
Archaic curative bleeding
Bloodletting is the historical medical practice of withdrawing blood from a patient, once believed to cure illness by rebalancing bodily fluids.
The term extends to any violent conflict or killing, especially when large-scale: The battle was followed by weeks of bloodletting.
In business, bloodletting refers to drastic cuts—layoffs, budget slashing, or painful restructuring: The company's bloodletting eliminated three departments.
Accommodates someone's wishes
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
- GalenClassical Roman-era physician
- HippocratesFather of medicine
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
cupping · four humors · bile · black bile · yellow bile · phlegm · sanguine · choleric
Extracting blood medically
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- hemochromatosisHereditary iron storage disease
- polycythemiaElevated red cell count
- hematocritRed cell volume fraction
hematology · porphyria · vein · lancet · bloodbank · transfusion · donor
Harmful physical force
- warfareArmed conflict between groups
- slaughterKilling for meat
- carnageWidespread violent death
- massacreLarge-scale unlawful killing
battle · casualties · strife · feuding · purge · vendetta · civil war · factional
Substance preventing blood clots
- suctionPulling via pressure difference
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- segmentedDivided into sections
- aquaticWater-inhabiting
medicinal · pond · swamp · bite · saliva · engorgement · annelid · application
Giving up something precious
- altarSacred ritual table
- offeringSomething presented or given
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- propitiationAct of placating deity
expiation · consecration · bloodshed · purification · atonement · covenant · rite · ceremonial
Purification through emotional expression
- purgeEliminate unwanted elements
- releaseTo let go
- ventingReleasing emotion verbally
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
upheaval · shake-up · restructuring · layoffs · cutbacks · downsizing · housecleaning · reckoning
humors
Accommodates someone's wishes
- phlebotomyExtracting blood medically
- GalenClassical Roman-era physician
- HippocratesFather of medicine
medieval · cupping · four humors · bile · black bile · yellow bile · phlegm · sanguine · choleric · melancholic
phlebotomy
Extracting blood medically
- therapeuticPromoting healing or wellness
- hemochromatosisHereditary iron storage disease
- polycythemiaElevated red cell count
hematocrit · hematology · porphyria · vein · lancet · bloodbank · transfusion · donor
violence
Harmful physical force
massacre · battle · casualties · strife · feuding · purge · vendetta · civil war · factional · infighting
anticoagulant
Substance preventing blood clots
- suctionPulling via pressure difference
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- segmentedDivided into sections
aquatic · medicinal · pond · swamp · bite · saliva · engorgement · annelid · application · therapy
sacrifice
Giving up something precious
propitiation · expiation · consecration · bloodshed · purification · atonement · covenant · rite · ceremonial · shaman
catharsis
Purification through emotional expression
cleansing · upheaval · shake-up · restructuring · layoffs · cutbacks · downsizing · housecleaning · reckoning · culling
- debunked beliefsflat earth, phlogiston, spontaneous generation, geocentrism, phrenology
- healing practicesacupressure, holistic healing, Ayurveda, self-healing, chiropractic
- MayaTikal, Chichen Itza, glyphs, glyph, hieroglyphs
- MesoamericaMaya, Aztec, Aztecs, Aztec Empire, Olmec
- Mesoamerican civilizationAztec Empire, human sacrifice, jaguar warriors, priesthood, temple complexes
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
bloodlettingblood transfusion
Infusing donated cells intravenously
transfusion · infusion · IV therapy · evidence-based medicine · resuscitation
bloodlettingpeacemaking
Resolving conflicts through negotiation
reconciliation · peace · ceasefire · truce · armistice
bloodlettinghiring spree
Intensive period of employment
buildup · expansion · recruitment · accumulation · growth