threadbare

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English thred-bar, thred-bare (“of cloth, clothing, etc.: worn to such an extent that the warp and weft threads show, shabby, worn-out; (figurative) inadequate, poor”) [and other forms], from thred (“piece of textile twine”) (from Old English þrǣd (“thread”), from Proto-Germanic *þrēduz (“thread; twisted fibre”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to drill, pierce; to rub; to turn, twist”)) + bar, bare (“naked, unclothed, bare; not covered”) (from Old English bær (“naked, bare; unconcealed”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bazaz (“naked, bare”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰosós (“bare; barefoot”)). The English word is analysable as thread +‎ bare. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈθɹɛdbɛə/, /-bɛː/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈθɹɛdˌbɛ(ə)ɹ/ Hyphenation: thread‧bare === Adjective === threadbare (comparative more threadbare, superlative most threadbare) Of cloth, clothing, furnishings, etc.: frayed and worn to an extent that the nap is damaged and the warp and weft threads show; shabby, worn-out. (figurative) In poor condition; damaged, shabby; also, poorly equipped or provided for, inadequate, meagre, scanty. (poorly equipped): Synonyms: see Thesaurus:inadequate Of an argument, excuse, etc.: used so often that it is no longer effective or interesting; banal, clichéd, trite. Synonyms: see Thesaurus:hackneyed Antonyms: fresh; see also Thesaurus:new An argument or assertion with little in the way of substance or supporting evidence. (poorly equipped): Synonyms: see Thesaurus:inadequate (archaic or obsolete) Of a person: wearing clothes of threadbare (sense 1) material; hence, impoverished, poor. Synonyms: broke, down at heel, penniless; see also Thesaurus:impoverished Antonyms: see Thesaurus:wealthy ==== Derived terms ==== threadbareness ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== === References ===