locked
UK[lɒkt]US[lɑːkt]
adj
Fastened or secured with a lock
adj
Closed and impossible to open without a key or combination
adj
Engaged in a fixed or rigid position
adj
(of a mobile phone) Restricted to a specific network
Morpheme Breakdown
lock
ed
lock
to fasten
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
The word 'locked' is built upon the Old English noun loc, which referred to a bolt, bar, or fastening mechanism. This Germanic root is related to the act of closing or securing an enclosure. The addition of the past participial suffix '-ed' transforms the action of fastening with a lock into an adjective describing the resultant state. Thus, the modern term 'locked' directly conveys the condition of being securely fastened, a concept that has expanded metaphorically to include fixed positions, engaged mechanisms, and restricted access.
Analysis
Structure: lock (to fasten) + ed (adjective suffix)
- lock: From Old English loc (fastening, enclosure, bolt), of Germanic origin. Functions as the core root meaning to fasten or secure.
- ed: From Old English -od, -ad, a past participle suffix used to form adjectives indicating a state or condition.
Examples
She realized the door was locked and she had left her keys inside.
The wheels are locked; the car won't move.
My phone is locked to my current carrier for another year.