Today’s word comes from The Oxford English Online Dictionary
heartbreaker, n.
Pronunciation:
Brit. /ˈhɑːtˌbreɪkə/ , U.S. /ˈhɑrtˌbreɪkər/
Etymology: < heart n. + breaker n.1
†1. A person (esp. God or Christ) who opens the heart to spiritual feelings. Only as contrasted with heart-maker (see heart maker n. at heart n., int., and adv. Compounds 3a). Obs.
You know, the first person who comes to mind when I think of the term “heartbreaker” is not typically “God” or “Christ”, but maybe I am alone on this one. Leave it to the Oxford English Dictionary to post the most pretentious and outdated definition first. Typical British, am I right?
2. A (typically artificial) ringlet or curl in a woman's hair, arranged or worn as an ornament (usu. in pl.); a woman's lovelock. Now literary and hist.
I wonder why this definition has become “Now literary and historical”…
3. A person who breaks hearts; (also) a physically attractive person (esp. a woman) who has many admirers.
Finally, something we can all relate to. We all know that "physically attractive person with a lot of admirers". No explanation needed.
4. Something that causes sorrow, anguish, or despair; an extremely disappointing or upsetting event or circumstance.
My chemistry exam last Thursday was a real heartbreaker.
The Word 