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zerschlissen

threadbare, worn to shreds

adjective tser-SHLIS-sen Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Also means

tattered

Usage Note

Zerschlissen describes cloth worn until the fibres have frayed and parted — beyond abgetragen (worn) or verschlissen (worn out). Zerschlissene Kleidung (tattered clothing). The prefix zer- signals thoroughness of destruction.

Examples

"Die zerschlissene Jacke des Mannes zeigte, wie hart seine Lage war."

Natural Translation

The man's tattered jacket showed how hard his situation was.

Literal Translation

The tattered jacket of the man showed how hard his situation was.

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