[Vocabulary] synonyms of 'to cut'

[constantinusphilo]

Paganini's enemies tampered with the strings of his violin so that they broke at the concert. I am looking for the verb that describes their action: they did not cut the strings but sort of made a cut so that they could still appear intact. In Russian it would be 'подрезать'. I cannot find an English equivalent.

 

[GoesStation]

A score is a partial cut.

 

[constantinusphilo]

It does not go with 'string' or 'rope'. In Latin, there is 'succidere' with the exact meaning as in Russian.

 

[tedmc]

What's wrong with "tamper with"? I think it is the appropriate word to describe making changes to something secretly to make it fail.

 

[Rover_KE]

Please tell us the source and author of your opening sentence, constantinushilo. It's a requirement of the forum.

 

[GoesStation]

It does not go with 'string' or 'rope'. In Latin, there is 'succidere' with the exact meaning as in Russian.

If you already knew the answer better than the native speakers here, why did you ask?

 

[teechar]

Perhaps "lacerate"? If not, then try "damage".