tatter Hear it!

tatter Definition

tat·ter (tatər)

noun

  1. a torn and hanging shred or piece, as of a garment
  2. a separate shred or scrap; rag
  3. torn, ragged clothes

Etymology: ME, prob. < ON töturr, rags, tatters, akin to Ger zotte, tuft < IE base *dā(i)-, to cut out, divide > tide

transitive verb

to reduce to tatters; make ragged

intransitive verb

to become ragged

tatter Usage Examples

Object

  • remnant: At the one end of this small stage lay what seemed the tattered remnants of a man.
  • cloak: The tattered cloak of the beggar will bear him up like the rayed plumes of the angels.
  • garment: Too much of Religion has the old modernism clinging to its tattered garments.
  • clothes: Five men, dressed in tattered clothes, were crouched about a bundle of red rags on the floor.
  • flag: Stuck on a twig, they waved in the wind like a tattered flag for years.
  • remain: A small remnant of a once vigorous society, clothed in the tattered remains of our pride?

Converse of object

  • wear: Years back I wore tatters, Now silk stockings, mi friend!

Adjective modifier

  • few: It tears very easily so that you awake with a few sad tatters around your feet.

Modifying Another Word

  • all: Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, her clothes all tattered and torn.
  • very: The cards were very tattered, and as we played on we realized that the various denominations had tears in exactly the same places!
  • slightly: In the center of the chamber is a pedestal upon which a timeless, tho slightly tattered, battle standard has been lain.
  • so: My copy is so tattered and worn out, I'm thinking of buying a new one to replace it.
  • rather: The Chalet School and Richenda - Hardback versus Paperback I compared my rather tattered 1958 hardback with my 1986 edition paperback.
  • now: What once may have been supple, rippling muscles were now tattered pieces of rotting flesh hanging off the bone.

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