heart rending etymology

Etymology:

  • "Heartrending" is derived from two Old English words:
    • "heorte" (heart) + "rendan" (to tear)

Meaning:

  • Causing intense emotional pain or sorrow
  • Characterized by extreme sadness, grief, or anguish

Origin:

The word "heartrending" first appeared in the late 14th century. It was initially used to describe physical injuries that tore the heart apart. Over time, its meaning expanded to include emotional pain that is so intense as to feel like it could tear the heart apart.

Examples of Usage:

  • "The news of his death was truly heartrending."
  • "The child's cries were heartrending to hear."
  • "The story of their struggles was heartrending."

Synonyms:

  • Heartbreaking
  • Devastating
  • Unbearable
  • Agonizing
  • Torturous

heart rending relate terms

  • heart

    Etymology The word heart comes from the Old English word heorte which is related to

  • rend

    Etymology The word rend comes from Middle English renden which in turn stems from Ol

  • rind

    Etymology The word rind is derived from the Old Norse word rindr meaning bark or

  • disruption

    Etymology Middle English disruptioun from Old French disruption from Latin disruptio

  • quarter

    Etymology The word quarter has several etymological roots Latin quartus meaning

  • cordial

    Etymology The word cordial derives from the Latin cor meaning heart and the suffi

  • cardiac

    Etymology The word cardiac originates from the Greek word kardia meaning heart

  • courage

    Etymology French courage Latin cor heart Proto Indo European ḱr̥d heart

  • core

    Core Etymology From Middle English cor core from Old English cōr from Proto

  • rift

    Etymology Old English rift rent crack fissure Proto Germanic riftiz meaning a tea

  • calendar

    Etymology Latin calendae first day of the month Proto Indo European kwele n

  • guild

    Etymology Old English gild Anglo Saxon gildan meaning to pay or to contribute