tatterdemalion

1 of 2

noun

tat·ter·de·ma·lion ˌta-tər-di-ˈmāl-yən How to pronounce tatterdemalion (audio)

-ˈmal-,

-ˈma-lē-ən

: a person dressed in ragged clothing : ragamuffin

tatterdemalion

2 of 2

adjective

: ragged or disreputable in appearance

: being in a decayed state or condition : dilapidated

Did you know?

The exact origin of tatterdemalion is uncertain, but it's probably connected to either the noun tatter ("a torn scrap or shred") or the adjective tattered ("ragged" or "wearing ragged clothes"). We do know that tatterdemalion has been used in print since the 1600s. In its first documented use, it was a noun referring to a person in ragged clothing—the type of person we might also call a ragamuffin. (Ragamuffin, incidentally, predates tatterdemalion in this sense. Like tatterdemalion, it may have been formed by combining a known word, rag, with a fanciful ending.) Soon after the first appearance of tatterdemalion, it came to be used as an adjective to describe anything or anyone ragged or disreputable.

tatterdemalion

adjective

as in dilapidated

showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect one of those tatterdemalion towns of the rust belt where the factories closed down decades ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

dilapidated
neglected
tumbledown
tattered
mangy
abandoned
scruffy
tatty
shabby
ragged
threadbare
dumpy
miserable
desolate
ratty
scrubby
grungy
seedy
timeworn
down-at-the-heels
tired
down-at-heel
ruined
tacky
sleazy
moth-eaten
broken
dog-eared
down-at-the-heel
beat-up
down-at-heels
bombed-out
mean
decrepit
wrecked
gone to seed
run-down
ramshackle
unkept
damaged
forlorn
godforsaken
rattletrap
dingy
bedraggled
rickety
decaying
broken-down
deteriorated
destroyed
worn-out
deteriorating
rackety
hurt
injured
impaired
harmed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

new
fresh
maintained
brand-new
spiffy
reconstructed
mended
spruce
patched
rebuilt
cared-for
kept-up
smart

as in tattered

wearing torn or worn-out clothes an ill-equipped, tatterdemalion army

Synonyms & Similar Words

tattered
ragged
raggedy
ragtag
scroungy
scruffy
shabby
bedraggled
threadbare
out at elbows
out at the elbows
down-at-heel
down-at-the-heels
down-at-the-heel
down-at-heels

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

decked (out)
spiffy
dressed up
dolled up

单词	tatterdemalion
释义	tatterdemalion 1 of 2 noun tat·ter·de·ma·lion ˌta-tər-di-ˈmāl-yən -ˈmal-, -ˈma-lē-ən : a person dressed in ragged clothing : ragamuffin tatterdemalion 2 of 2 adjective 1 : ragged or disreputable in appearance 2 : being in a decayed state or condition : dilapidated Did you know? The exact origin of tatterdemalion is uncertain, but it's probably connected to either the noun tatter ("a torn scrap or shred") or the adjective tattered ("ragged" or "wearing ragged clothes"). We do know that tatterdemalion has been used in print since the 1600s. In its first documented use, it was a noun referring to a person in ragged clothing—the type of person we might also call a ragamuffin. (Ragamuffin, incidentally, predates tatterdemalion in this sense. Like tatterdemalion, it may have been formed by combining a known word, rag, with a fanciful ending.) Soon after the first appearance of tatterdemalion, it came to be used as an adjective to describe anything or anyone ragged or disreputable. Synonyms Adjective beat-up bombed-out dilapidated dog-eared down-at-the-heels down-at-heel down-at-the-heel down-at-heels dumpy grungy mangy mean miserable moth-eaten neglected ratty run-down scrubby scruffy seedy shabby sleazy tacky tatty threadbare timeworn tumbledown See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective one of those tatterdemalion towns of the rust belt where the factories closed down decades ago Recent Examples on the Web Adjective Overhanging his outer compound wall were the only two remaining shade trees in the citadel, one a dying oak, the other a mulberry tree, and within the compound was a tatterdemalion garden, where a scrawny pomegranate tree drooped with heavy fruit. Rod Nordland, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017 Word History Etymology Noun origin unknown First Known Use Noun 1608, in the meaning defined above Adjective 1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1 tatterdemalion adjective 1 as in dilapidated showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect one of those tatterdemalion towns of the rust belt where the factories closed down decades ago Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance dilapidated neglected tumbledown tattered mangy abandoned scruffy tatty shabby ragged threadbare dumpy miserable desolate ratty scrubby grungy seedy timeworn down-at-the-heels tired down-at-heel ruined tacky sleazy moth-eaten broken dog-eared down-at-the-heel beat-up down-at-heels bombed-out mean decrepit wrecked gone to seed run-down ramshackle unkept damaged forlorn godforsaken rattletrap dingy bedraggled rickety decaying broken-down deteriorated destroyed worn-out deteriorating rackety hurt injured impaired harmed Antonyms & Near Antonyms new fresh maintained brand-new spiffy reconstructed mended spruce patched rebuilt cared-for kept-up smart See More 2 as in tattered wearing torn or worn-out clothes an ill-equipped, tatterdemalion army Synonyms & Similar Words tattered ragged raggedy ragtag scroungy scruffy shabby bedraggled threadbare out at elbows out at the elbows down-at-heel down-at-the-heels down-at-the-heel down-at-heels Antonyms & Near Antonyms decked (out) spiffy dressed up dolled up
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tatterdemalion

noun

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

adjective