torn
having edges that are jagged from injury
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,194 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 8,017 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- having edges that are jagged from injury also: lacerate, lacerated, mangled
- disrupted by the pull of contrary forces torn between love and hatetorn by conflicting loyalties
torn in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Were they torn to pieces, or burnt, they minded it not.
The Dream · Émile Zola · Chapter 1
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The torn tails of his black coat flapped in fringes about the calves of his legs.
The nigger of the "Narcissus" · Joseph Conrad · Chapter 1
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The poor beast was all torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was quite unhappy about it.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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His clothes were torn off piecemeal and scattered in the crowd, people catching the shreds and putting them away as mementos.
The Red Record Tabulated Statistics · Ida B. Wells-Barnett · Chapter 1
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He was very unhappy, for he had resolved to let himself be torn in pieces rather than marry the ugly witch maiden.
The Firelight Fairy Book · Henry Beston · Chapter 1