Meanings
alternative tottered
- not comparableRent in tatters, torn, hanging in rags; ragged.
The chattering, irrational brute of the subconscious clothes itself in the tattered garments of rationality and idealism.
1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human ProgressSynonyms: raggedy, ragtag, tatterdemalion
- not comparableDressed in tatters or rags; ragged.
The tattered man waved his hand.
1895 October, Stephen Crane, chapter X, in The Red Badge of Courage: An Episode of the American Civil War, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC, page 1011 more example
This is the Prieſt all ſhaven and ſhorn, that married the man all tattered and torn[.]
1784, The House that Jack Built, page 8Synonyms: raggy, bedraggled, blowsy, dishevelled, dowdy, dowdyish, down at heel, downgone
- not comparableobsoleteDilapidated; showing gaps or breaks; jagged; broken.
Synonyms: clapped out, damaged, defective, deteriorated, dilapidated, effete, faulty, munted
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveRent in tatters, torn, hanging in rags; ragged.
adjectiveDressed in tatters or rags; ragged.
adjectiveDilapidated; showing gaps or breaks; jagged; broken.
More synonyms by meaning
adjectiveworn to shreds; or wearing torn or ragged clothing
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Old Norsetǫturr
- Middle Englishtatered
- Englishtattered
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.
More words from Middle English, Old Norse
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ῥάκινος
- ῥάκινος (rhákinos)ragged and torn
Bulgarian опърпан, дрипав
- опърпан (opărpan)dressed in tatters or rags
- дрипав (dripav)ragged and torn
- парцалив (parcaliv)ragged and torn
Finnish resuinen, resuinen
- resuinendressed in tatters or rags
- resuinenragged and torn
French abîmé, en loques
- abîméragged and torn
- en loquesragged and torn
- en haillonsragged and torn
- loqueteuxragged and torn
Hindi जर्जर
- जर्जर (jarjar)ragged and torn
Irish adhastrach, ribíneach
- adhastrachragged and torn
- ribíneachragged and torn
Italian stracciato, a brandelli
- stracciatoragged and torn
- a brandelliragged and torn
- lisoragged and torn
Latin pannuceus
- pannuceusragged and torn
Māori tāreperepe
- tārepereperagged and torn
Persian سخش
- سخش (saxš)ragged and torn
Portuguese esfarrapado
- esfarrapadodressed in tatters or rags
Russian дра́ный, рва́ный
- дра́ный (drányj)ragged and torn
- рва́ный (rványj)ragged and torn
- обо́рванный (obórvannyj)ragged and torn
Spanish harapiento, andrajoso
- harapientodressed in tatters or rags
- andrajosoragged and torn
Cite this entry
tattered. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tattered
“tattered.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tattered. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tattered,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tattered.
Source: tattered on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.