gutted

The word 'gutted' originates from the Old English term for the intestines. The literal sense, meaning "having the guts removed," is visceral and stark, often applied to butchered animals or gutted buildings. The powerful emotional metaphor, now the primary meaning in British and Commonwealth English, developed from the idea of having one's vital inner essence or courage ripped out, leaving one hollowed with disappointment. This evolution from a physical state to a profound psychological descriptor illustrates how bodily terms are powerfully co-opted to express intense human emotion.

Structure: gut (intestines, essence) + ed (adjective suffix) - gut: From Old English guttas (plural), meaning "belly" or "intestines," of Germanic origin. In this word, it functions as the core semantic root. - ed: A suffix of Old English origin used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating a state or condition.