red-cheeked

The word is a straightforward English compound adjective formed by combining two native Germanic elements. 'Red' descends from the Proto-Indo-European root h₁rewdʰ-, which signified the colors red and ruddy, a meaning preserved perfectly in its modern use. 'Cheek' originates from the Proto-Germanic word for jaw or side of the face. The suffix '-ed', used to form adjectives from nouns, indicates possession of the quality described. Thus, the literal construction 'having red cheeks' directly and transparently conveys its modern descriptive meaning, showcasing the agglutinative nature of English word formation.

Structure: red (color) + cheek (part of face) + ed (adjective suffix) - red: Old English, from Proto-Germanic raudaz, meaning the color red. Functions as the descriptive adjective. - cheek: Old English, from Proto-Germanic kekōn, meaning the side of the face. Functions as the noun being modified. - ed: Old English, adjectival suffix meaning 'having, provided with'. Functions to form a compound adjective.