English Explanatory Dictionary

tattered

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Rent in tatters, torn, hanging in rags; ragged.
  2. Dressed in tatters or rags; ragged.
  3. Dilapidated; showing gaps or breaks; jagged; broken.
verb
  1. simple past and past participle of tatter

Pronunciation

/ˈtætəd/ /ˈtætɚd/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Persent101-tattered.wav

Word forms

tattered tottered

Etymology

From Middle English tatered, tatird, from Old Norse tǫturr. Originally, it was derived from the noun, but it was later reanalysed as a past participle (tatter + -ed), whereafter the verb came into being. Compare tatter.

Synonyms

raggedy ragtag tatterdemalion raggy bedraggled blowsy dishevelled dowdy dowdyish down at heel downgone qualifier draggle-tailed draggled frowsy frumpy grotty grufty grungy hashy mangy mean out at the heels piggy ribby schleppy schlumpy scratty scrofulous scroungy scruffy scrungy seedy shabby slammocky slatternly slobbish slobby sloppy slovenlike slovenly slummocky sluttish tacky tore up trampish unfine unkemmed unkempt unshaven clapped out damaged defective deteriorated dilapidated effete faulty munted outworn passé

Related words

tatty tatterdemalion
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