stolen
UK: ˈstəʊlən | US: ˈstoʊlən
adj. taken unlawfully or without permission
v. past participle of "steal" (to take something unlawfully)
stolen = stole<take unlawfully> + en<past participle suffix>
- stole: Derived from Old English stelan (to steal), from Proto-Germanic stelaną, meaning "to take secretly."
- en: A past participle suffix in Middle English, often used to form adjectives or passive verbs.
Etymology Origin:
The word "stolen" originates from Old English stolen, the past participle of stelan (to steal). Over time, the suffix -en solidified its role in forming past participles, particularly in strong verbs. The core concept of "taking unlawfully" has remained consistent, though the spelling evolved from stelan to "steal" in modern English.
The stolen car was recovered by the police.
She felt guilty about the stolen money.
The museum displayed artifacts that were once stolen.
He was arrested for possessing stolen goods.
The stolen necklace was returned to its owner.