grown
UK: ɡrəʊn | US: ɡroʊn
adj. having reached full development or maturity
v. past participle of grow (to increase in size or develop over time)
grown = grow<to increase> + n<past participle suffix>
- grow: From Old English grōwan ("to grow, flourish"), from Proto-Germanic grōaną, related to grass and green. Originally tied to natural growth (plants, living beings).
- -n: A reduced form of the Old English past participle suffix -en, marking completed action (e.g., broken, chosen).
Etymology Origin:
The word grown traces back to Old English, where grōwan described organic growth (plants, children). The -n suffix solidified its role as a past participle by Middle English, shifting from literal growth ("a grown tree") to metaphorical maturity ("a grown adult"). The root grow retains its agricultural essence but expanded to abstract development (e.g., "grown business").
The plants have grown taller after the rain.
She’s a grown woman capable of making her own decisions.
The market has grown significantly in the past decade.
He’s grown accustomed to the city’s noise.
These tomatoes are homegrown and organic.