zerstört

Zerstört is a German term that functions as the past participle of the verb zerstören (to destroy). As an adjective, it means destroyed, ruined, or devastated, and it describes something that has been rendered unusable or severely damaged. It can be used literally, as in Das Haus ist zerstört (The house is destroyed), or figuratively, as in Die Pläne sind zerstört (The plans are ruined).

Etymology: Zerstört is formed from the prefix zer- combined with stören (to disturb). The zer- prefix conveys thorough destruction or breaking apart. The form ultimately derives from Old High German zerstōren, with the modern spelling reflecting German sound changes.

Grammar and usage: Zerstört can function attributively, taking inflection when modifying a noun (for example, ein zerstörter Turm, a destroyed tower), or predicatively with sein or werden (Der Turm ist zerstört; Der Turm wird zerstört). It appears across registers, from news reporting and nonfiction to literature, film, and music, to convey ruin, damage, or emotional devastation.

See also: zerstören, Zerstörung. The term is closely linked to discussions of damage, ruin, and loss in German-language contexts.