Shatter \Shat"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shattering.]

[OE. schateren, scateren, to scatter, to dash, AS. scateran; cf. D. schateren to crack, to make a great noise, OD. schetteren to scatter, to burst, to crack. Cf. Scatter.]

1. To break at once into many pieces; to dash, burst, or part violently into fragments; to rend into splinters; as, an explosion shatters a rock or a bomb; too much steam shatters a boiler; an oak is shattered by lightning.

A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided amongst revolted subjects. --Locke.

2. To disorder; to derange; to render unsound; as, to be shattered in intellect; his constitution was shattered; his hopes were shattered.

A man of a loose, volatile, and shattered humor. --Norris.

3. To scatter about. [Obs.]

Shatter your leaves before the mellowing year. --Milton.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)