Chiefly Surg. [f. L. ligāt-, ppl. stem of ligāre to bind.] trans. To bind with a ligature or bandage; spec. in Surg., to tie up (a bleeding artery or vessel).
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 37/1. Open a blacke Henne on her backe, applye and also ligate her on his head.
1775. New Hampsh. Prov. Papers (1873), VII. 652. He … was at that time even destitute of a needle to ligate a bleeding vessell.
1896. Treves, Syst. Surg., I. 540. When a surgeon is ligating an artery.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 244. If … the superior mesenteric artery be ligated.
fig. c. 1600. Timon, III. v. Let it be lawfull for me … to ligate and obligate your eares with my words.
Hence Ligated ppl. a., tied with a ligature; (of letters) united in a ligature; Ligating vbl. sb. Also Ligator, ‘an instrument to place and fasten a ligature’ (Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 1884).
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 31 b/1. That nature may have time to close the cutt and ligated vayne.
1866. T. Wright, in Intell. Observ., No. 50. 108. The Roman ligated letters.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Ligating-forceps.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 165. The formation of a thrombus is of no assistance in securing obliteration of a ligated vessel.
