cultured
UK[ˈkʌltʃəd]US[ˈkʌltʃərd]
adj
having or showing good education, taste, and polite behavior
adj
(of cells, bacteria, etc.) grown or produced in a controlled environment for scientific use
Morpheme Breakdown
culture
ed
culture
cultivate
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'cultured' is built upon the noun 'culture', which originates from the latin agricultural term cultura, meaning 'cultivation' or 'tending'. this derives from the verb colere, which encompassed meanings of inhabiting, caring for, and tilling the land. by the 16th century, 'culture' in english metaphorically extended to the 'cultivation' of the mind, manners, and artistic taste. the adjective-forming suffix '-ed' was then appended, creating 'cultured' in the 19th century to describe a person whose mind and tastes have been refined and developed, much like a well-tended field, or to describe biological specimens that have been carefully grown and tended in a laboratory.
Analysis
Structure: culture (cultivate) + ed (adjective suffix)
culture (from latin cultura, meaning 'cultivation, tending', from the verb colere, 'to till, cultivate, inhabit'). ed (from old english -ede, -od, -ad, a suffix forming adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating possession of a quality).
Examples
she is a highly cultured individual with a deep appreciation for classical music and fine art.
the cultured pearls from that region are known for their exceptional luster and quality.
for the experiment, we used a cultured strain of bacteria resistant to the antibiotic.