neatly-torn
|neat-ly-torn|
🇺🇸
/ˈniːtli tɔrn/
🇬🇧
/ˈniːtli tɔːn/
tidily ripped
Etymology
'neatly-torn' is a compound word formed from 'neatly' and 'torn'. 'Neatly' originates from Middle English 'netly', meaning 'tidily', and 'torn' is the past participle of 'tear', which comes from Old English 'teran'.
'neatly' evolved from Middle English 'netly', and 'torn' from Old English 'teran', eventually forming the modern compound 'neatly-torn'.
Initially, 'neatly' meant 'tidily', and 'torn' meant 'ripped'. The compound 'neatly-torn' retains these meanings, describing something ripped in a tidy manner.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
describes something that has been torn in a tidy or orderly manner.
The paper was neatly-torn along the dotted line.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/19 01:00