What does tongued mean?
Tongued is an uncommon English word with two distinct grammatical roles. As an adjective, it can mean literally having a tongue, but it is more often understood through expressions such as sharp-tongued, describing someone quick to criticize or speak harshly, and silver-tongued, describing someone eloquent and persuasive. It can also refer to a person's ability to speak a particular language. As a verb, tongued is the past tense and past participle of tongue, an old-fashioned word meaning to utter or express in words. The use is now mainly literary, as in saying that someone refused to “tongue” a complaint or name. Although the word may initially sound unusual, it is useful because it connects the literal instrument of speech with figurative descriptions of eloquence, sharpness, and verbal restraint.
Having a tongue; speaking or able to speak.
"The guide was tongued in English, French, and Spanish."
Outside established compounds, the adjective is now literary or archaic.
To utter or express in words; the past tense and past participle of tongue.
"The witness refused to tongue the name of her source."
Rare and chiefly literary; the more usual word for expressing something in words depends on the context.
Tongued can literally mean equipped with a tongue, figuratively mean able to speak, and—rarely—mean having put something into words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tongued come from?
Tongued was formed in English from tongue with the suffix -ed. Tongue itself derives from Old English tunge and is of Germanic origin, with related forms in Dutch and German. The adjective was formed by adding -ed to indicate possession or quality, while the verb form belongs to the older English verb tongue, meaning to utter or express.
How tongued is actually used
The adjective is literary, archaic, or marked when used by itself; it is more familiar in established hyphenated compounds. The verb is uncommon and generally belongs to formal or literary usage.
Easily confused with tongued
Tongued is pronounced /tʌŋd/ and relates to speech or having a tongue, whereas tangled is pronounced /ˈtæŋɡəld/ and means twisted or confused.