fenced
Meaning
enclosed or surrounded with a fence
sold (stolen goods) to a receiver
engaged in the sport of fencing
Structure
Usage
the farmer fenced his pasture to keep the sheep from wandering.
the thief was arrested after he fenced the stolen jewelry.
she fenced competitively throughout her university years.
Etymology
the word 'fenced' originates from the middle english 'fens', an aphetic form of 'defens', meaning protection. this, in turn, derives from the old french 'defens', rooted in the latin past participle 'defensus' of the verb 'defendere', meaning 'to ward off'. the core concept of creating a barrier for protection or enclosure has remained central. the addition of the old english suffix '-ed' marks the action as completed, transforming the noun/verb 'fence' into its past form, used to describe the state of having been enclosed, the illicit sale of goods, or participation in the sword-fighting sport which metaphorically involves parrying or defending.
Analysis
fence (from middle english fens, short for defens, from old french defens, from latin defensus, past participle of defendere meaning 'to ward off, protect'; functions as the verb root meaning to enclose or defend with a barrier). ed (from old english -ede, -ode, -ad; functions as a suffix forming the past tense and past participle of weak verbs).