Severing Charm

"With the Severing Charm, cutting or tearing objects is a simple matter of wand control. The spell can be quite precise in skilled hands, and the Severing Charm is widely used in a variety of wizarding trades. Useful as it is, this charm should be practiced with caution, as a careless swipe of the wand can cause injury."

- Miranda Goshawk

The Severing Charm (Diffindo) is a charm used to precisely and accurately cut something. It is taught in second year charms classes, and if used inappropriately can cause death or injury.

History
"The Severing Charm was created in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress Delfina Crimp who created it as an easy and convenient way of cutting cloth and thread."

- Book of Spells This spell was invented in the fifteenth century by wizarding seamstress Delfina Crimp. She made the spell because prior to her discovery, cutting spells were apt to burn or shred things. However, a fellow seamster nearly killed her after he raided her shop, having realised that she could do magic, and held her tied up. Nonetheless, upon being released to scratch a wart on her chin the wart brought her wand forth and she disapparated with a sack of gold.

Known practitioners

 * Delfina Crimp
 * Harry Potter
 * Ron Weasley
 * Hermione Granger

Etymology
The incantation is the Latin first person active indicative for "to split, cleave or open".

Behind the scenes

 * In the Harry Potter Trading Card Game, Diffindo is incorrectly labeled as a Transfiguration spell.
 * In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 it cuts through red LEGO walls so that the player can use the pieces to make new things.
 * A spellbook for this charm can be found in one of the Herbology greenhouses; this is also detailed in both Book of Spells and The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
 * LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
 * Harry Potter Trading Card Game
 * Pottermore
 * Wonderbook: Book of Spells
 * Lego Dimensions (Used by Harry Potter, Lord Voldemort, and Newt Scamander)

Notes and references
Sortilège de Découpe Incantesimo di Taglio Diffindo Диффиндо