battered

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Sure! Let's break down the word "battered" in a simple way.

Definition

Battered is an adjective that describes something or someone that has been hurt, damaged, or abused repeatedly. This can be physical damage, like an old car or a hat that looks worn out, or it can refer to emotional harm, like a person who has been mistreated over time.

Usage Instructions

You can use "battered" to describe both objects and people. When you use it to describe a person, it often implies that they have experienced a lot of suffering or hardship.

Examples

1. Physical Use: "His battered old car had dents and scratches all over it." (This means the car is in poor condition because it has been used a lot.)
2. Emotional Use: "The battered woman found help at a shelter." (This means the woman has experienced abuse and is seeking safety.)

Advanced Usage

In more advanced contexts, you might discuss the "battered woman syndrome," which refers to a psychological condition that can affect women who have been in abusive relationships. This term is used in psychology and social work.

Word Variants

• Batter (verb): To hit repeatedly or to damage something through rough treatment. For example, "The storm battered the coastal towns."
• Battering (noun): The act of hitting or damaging. For example, "The house suffered a battering from the heavy winds."

Different Meanings

While "battered" mainly refers to damage from physical or emotional injury, it can also be used in cooking. For example, "battered fish" means fish that has been coated in batter (a mixture of flour and liquid) and then fried.

Synonyms

• Damaged
• Worn
• Beaten
• Abused
• Hurt

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• "Battered down": This can mean to be defeated or broken down by repeated attacks or challenges.
• "Battered and bruised": This means someone or something has been hurt or damaged a lot, often used metaphorically to describe someone who has gone through tough experiences.

Summary

Battered is a versatile word used to describe physical and emotional damage. It can refer to objects that are worn out or people who have suffered abuse.

Academic

Adjective

1. exhibiting symptoms resulting from repeated physical and emotional injury
   • a battered child
   • the battered woman syndrome
2. damaged especially by hard usage
   • his battered old hat
3. damaged by blows or hard usage
   • a battered old car
   • the beaten-up old Ford

Synonyms

• beat-up
• beaten-up