Old and torn; worn to shreds; in poor condition from wear and tear.
From Middle English tatteren, possibly from Old Norse töturr meaning 'rags.' The word may be related to 'tatter,' suggesting something torn into irregular pieces.
The phrase 'tattered and torn' is redundant since tattered already means torn, but this doubling emphasizes extreme deterioration. Interestingly, 'tattered' often carries romantic or nostalgic connotations that simple 'torn' lacks.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.