experienced
UK[ɪkˈspɪəriənst]US[ɪkˈspɪriənst]
adj
Having knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity because you have done it for a long time.
adj
Having had a lot of something happen to you; having been through many different situations.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
peri
enced
ex
out
peri
try, go through
enced
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'experienced' originates from the Latin verb experiri, meaning "to try, test, or go through." This verb itself is composed of ex- ("out") and a base related to peritus ("skilled"), conveying the idea of thoroughly testing something to gain knowledge from it. The past participle form experientia gave rise to the noun "experience," denoting the knowledge gained from undergoing trials. By the 16th century, the adjective "experienced" emerged in English, directly applying the participial suffix -ed to signify the state of having gained practical wisdom or skill through direct involvement and repeated testing over time.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + peri (try, go through) + enced (adjective suffix)
- ex: Latin prefix meaning "out of, from, thoroughly."
- peri: From Latin periri, a variant stem of peritus (experienced, skilled), related to periculum (trial, danger, experiment). The core sense is "to try, go through, test."
- enced: A suffix forming adjectives from verbs (like the past participle ending -ed), indicating a state or condition resulting from an action.
Examples
She is a highly experienced surgeon who has performed this operation hundreds of times.
We need someone experienced in digital marketing to lead the new campaign.
He is well-traveled and experienced in dealing with different cultures.