sealed
UK: siːld | US: siːld
adj. closed or secured with a fastening to prevent access or leakage
adj. officially confirmed or finalized (e.g., a legal agreement)
adj. (of a document) marked with an official stamp or signature
The word "sealed" derives from the Old French "seel" (modern "sceau"), meaning a stamp or mark of authority, which traces back to the Latin "sigillum" (small sign or seal). The verb "seal" originally referred to pressing a wax emblem onto a document to authenticate it, later extending to any act of closing securely. The suffix "-ed" marks the past participle form, indicating a completed action (e.g., "a sealed envelope" = an envelope that has been closed).
The letter was sealed with wax to ensure privacy.
The deal was sealed after months of negotiation.
Archaeologists found a sealed tomb untouched for centuries.
Her lips were sealed in silence during the interrogation.
The judge ordered the evidence to remain sealed until the trial.