Maimed

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /meɪmd/

Definitions

1. To sustain a grievous injury leading to lasting impairment or disfigurement
2. To cause severe physical harm resulting in inability to function normally or loss of body parts
3. Suffered a severe injury that results in permanent damage to the body

Etymology: "Maimed" is the past participle and adjective of "maim," which came into English from Old French "mahaignier," a word that meant to wound or injure. The verb "maim" appears in Middle English as "maimen," and the past participle "maymed" (with its earlier form "ymaymed," where the "y-" prefix marks a participle) was formed from it in the same period. The modern sense of severe, lasting bodily damage has deep roots in the Old French word, which was itself tied to the idea of mutilation or disabling a body part. Over time "maim" narrowed to describe injuries that permanently impair a person, while the adjective "maimed" took on the same meaning, describing someone who has been left with lasting damage rather than a passing wound.

Synonyms: crippled, disabled, injured, wounded

Antonyms: healed, whole, uninjured