corded
UK[ˈkɔːdɪd]US[ˈkɔːrdɪd]
adj
(of a muscle) having a tight, stringy appearance.
adj
(of fabric) having a ribbed or ridged surface.
adj
(of a telephone or electrical appliance) connected by a physical wire.
Morpheme Breakdown
cord
ed
cord
string/rope
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'corded' originates from the Latin chorda, meaning a string or gut, particularly from a musical instrument. This Latin term was borrowed from the Greek khordē, which carried the same primary meaning of an animal gut used as a string. The suffix '-ed', of Germanic origin, is a common adjectival ending in English, indicating possession or a quality. Thus, the literal construction "having cords" evolved to describe modern objects characterized by the presence of string-like elements, whether the ridged texture in fabric, the wired connection of an appliance, or the fibrous appearance of taut muscle.
Analysis
Structure: cord (string/rope) + ed (adjective suffix)
- cord: From Latin chorda (string of a musical instrument, gut), via Greek khordē (gut, string). In English, it denotes a string, rope, or flexible cable.
- ed: A suffix of Old English origin, used to form adjectives from nouns, meaning "having, provided with, characterized by."
Examples
The bodybuilder's neck and shoulders were thick with corded muscle.
She preferred the textured feel of corded velvet for the upholstery.
The old, corded telephone sat on the desk, a relic from a previous era.