Distraughted

/dɪˈstrɔːtəd/ adjective

Definition

Extremely anxious, troubled, or mentally confused and distressed.

Etymology

A variant or archaic form blending 'distraught' with the ending '-ed.' 'Distraught' comes from Old French 'destraite,' past participle of 'destraire' (to pull apart). The '-ed' ending is redundant since 'distraught' is already past-participial in form, making this a folk-etymological recreation.

Kelly Says

This word is a beautiful example of folk etymology—people heard 'distraught' and thought it needed '-ed' to make it a past participle, even though it already was one! It's like English speakers' brains trying to regularize an irregular inherited form.

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