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heartrending. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
heartrending, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
heartrending in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
heartrending you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
heart + rending
Adjective
heartrending (comparative more heartrending, superlative most heartrending)
- That causes great grief, anguish or distress.
- Synonym: heart-breaking
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 154:[T]he old man, who appeared to be an ardent fisherman, told me of the large trout he caught in the neighbourhood thirty years ago, when he came here from Gudbrandsdale, and made the most heartrending complaints of the decrease of fish and increase of saw-dust, just as Sir Humphry Davy makes in his Salmonia.
- That elicits deep sympathy.
I am suddenly assaulted by the most heartrending puppy-dog eyes I've ever seen as Emi pouts.
1908 June, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, Boston, Mass.: L[ouis] C[oues] Page & Company, published August 1909 (11th printing), →OCLC:Oh, Marilla, it was heartrending. Mr. Phillips made such a beautiful farewell speech beginning, ‘The time has come for us to part.’ It was very affecting. And he had tears in his eyes too, Marilla.
Translations
that elicits deep sympathy
Translations to be checked
Further reading