The word "shattered" is spelled with the letter combination "sh" which is pronounced using the IPA phonetic transcription /ʃ/. The vowel sound after the "sh" is pronounced as a short "a" sound like /æ/. The following two letters "tt" represent a double consonant, which indicates that the preceding vowel sound is short. The final letters "ered" are pronounced like /əd/ indicating the past tense of the verb "shatter." Therefore, the correct IPA transcription of "shattered" is /ˈʃætərd/.
Shattered is an adjective that describes something that has been completely broken into numerous pieces. It implies extreme damage, typically as a result of a forceful impact or excessive pressure. When an object is shattered, it loses its original form, appearing fragmented and scattered. Shattering often occurs when materials such as glass, ceramic, or fragile objects experience intense stress, causing them to break apart. The shattered state is usually irreversible, and the pieces may be too small or damaged to restore the object to its original condition.
This term can also metaphorically describe the emotional or psychological state of an individual. When someone feels shattered, it means they are experiencing intense emotional pain or distress, often due to a traumatic event or deep personal loss. It denotes a state of extreme emotional fragmentation, leaving the person feeling utterly devastated, mentally or spiritually broken. In this context, being shattered may lead to feelings of hopelessness, grief, and despair.
Furthermore, shattered can be used figuratively to describe the state of a plan, dream, or ambition that has been severely disrupted or thwarted. If a person's hopes or aspirations are shattered, it means they have been dashed or completely destroyed, much like a physical object that has been shattered. This usage emphasizes the sense of disappointment, disillusionment, or setback associated with an unfulfilled goal or expectation.
Broken or dashed to pieces.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "shattered" comes from the Middle English word "shateren", which means "to scatter" or "to break into fragments". This Middle English term is believed to have originated from the Old English word "sceaterian" or "scaterian", which has the same meaning. The Old English term likely derived from the Proto-Germanic word "skaterōną", meaning "to destroy" or "to scatter". Ultimately, the etymology of "shattered" can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root "*skei-", which means "to split" or "to cut".