Guttered: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Old French 'guter', which means to 'drip or flow' and is related to the English word 'gutter', referring to channels for water.
• It originally described the dripping of water or other substances, and its use expanded to describe any situation where something dwindles or goes out.

Literature

• The term is often used in poetry and prose to convey imagery of decline or an ending, such as a candle guttering out, reflecting despair or loss.
• Famous authors, including Edgar Allan Poe, have used the imagery of guttered flames to symbolize dark themes like death and hopelessness.

Psychology

• In a metaphorical sense, 'guttered' can relate to feelings of loss of motivation or passion, akin to a flame losing its intensity.
• The association of 'guttered' with fading light mirrors a psychological state where enthusiasm or hope is diminished.

Visual Arts

• Artists often use the image of a guttering candle as a symbol of transience, capturing the fleeting nature of life and beauty in contrasts of light and shadow.
• In paintings, the representation of guttered candles invokes a sense of nostalgia and evokes emotional responses about the passage of time.

Pop Culture

• In film and literature, a guttered flame often signifies moments of danger or the impending end of a significant character's journey.
• Various horror genres utilize the concept of a guttered candle to build suspense, as it suggests the dwindling of hope or safety.