Shatter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Shattering.]
Etymology: [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.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Shatter, v. i.
To be broken into fragments; to fal Some fragile bodies break but where the force is; some shatter and fly in many places. Bacon.
Shatter, n.
A fragment of anything shattered; -- used chiefly or soley in the phrase into shatters; as, to break a glass into shatters. Swift.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for shatter; he lists it under break.
Where he writes about it:
To demolish is to beat down, as a mound, building, fortress, etc.; to destroy is to put by any process beyond restoration physically, mentally, or morally; to destroy an army is so to shatter and scatter it that it can not be rallied or reassembled as a fighting force. — from break