Catherine writes:
First off, thank you for your informative section on "went missing." My mother was complaining to me about the usage of this phrase and it is great to know that she is not alone and that it is relatively new to the English American language.
Secondly, our conversation then went on to include the usage of the word "shuttered." The media seems to use this word when referring to the closure of plants or businesses. "The shuttered restaurant was a result of declining patronage." OR.. "The rubber factory was shuttered yesterday." My mother is 64 years old and has never heard of this use of the word. Shutters are ornaments on your home to accent your windows... not a verb! Please advise as to what you may know about the word and its current use.
Once upon a time, shutters weren't ornamental—they literally shut the windows. They kept the rain and snow from blowing into the house, because glass was scarce. So when you closed up your house, you pulled the shutters over the windows as well as locking the door.
In many countries with storefront businesses, shopkeepers pull down metal shutters at the end of the business day. These prevent thieves from breaking the stores' windows and doors.
So "shuttered" meaning "closed" is an expression with a long history...and we can stll use it even when a closed business has no shutters at all.
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