πρὸς ἀλέξησιν τραπομένους → preparing to defend themselves
āvulsĭo: (āvol-), ōnis, f. avello; in gardening, t. t.,
I a plucking off, tearing off of the branches of a tree: Aut semine (arbores) proveniunt aut plantis radicis aut propagine aut avolsione, Plin. 17, 10, 9, § 58; 17, 13, 21, § 98.