torn

Everyday

1. Torn is the past participle of tear (rip): the page was torn. tree →
2. Torn means ripped or pulled apart: a torn page has a rip in it. tree →
3. Torn between two things means not able to choose. tree →

In the lessons

Maths: damaged things that are taken away from the good ones: good part = total − torn. Everyday: torn jeans, a torn ticket, a torn muscle. Stories: «She was torn between staying and going.»

Examples

• 4 of the 20 pages were torn. tree →
• He threw away 3 torn bags. tree →
• How many tickets are not torn? tree →
• A torn book cannot be sold. tree →
• My jeans got torn when I fell. tree →
• She mended the torn sleeve. tree →
• He was torn between the red bike and the blue one. tree →
• It had torn itself out of his hand and floated away. tree →

Note

Tear (rip), tore, torn. «Torn» marks the damaged part; the good part is total − torn. Trap: «tear» (rip, rhymes with «bear») and «tear» (from the eye, rhymes with «ear») are spelled the same; only the first has the form «torn».

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it often means killed by a wild animal, as in "torn of beasts," which makes meat forbidden to eat. In the prophets and Job it also means that God, like a wild beast, has torn his people in anger.

Interpretation. The law of "terefah" (torn meat) comes from this; Jews eat only properly slaughtered animals and avoid those mauled by beasts. Hosea is read as saying that the God who tore will also heal if the people return.

Examples

• If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness; he shall not make good that which was torn. (Torah EXO.22.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• That which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD. (Torah LEV.22.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• and the one went out from me, and I said: Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since; (Torah GEN.44.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• The priests shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be fowl or beast. (Prophets EZK.44.31, JPS 1917) tree →
• He hath torn me in His wrath, and hated me; He hath gnashed upon me with His teeth; mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me. (Writings JOB.16.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• 'Come, and let us return unto the LORD; for He hath torn, and He will heal us, He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. (Prophets HOS.6.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Tear (rip), tore, torn. «Torn» marks the damaged part; the good part is total − torn. Trap: «tear» (rip, rhymes with «bear») and «tear» (from the eye, rhymes with «ear») are spelled the same; only the first has the form «torn».